Happy Easter to our readers

A very Happy Easter to our readers who celebrate this auspicious occasion commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ with special prayers and family gatherings and though there are some reservations about security, life must go on and celebrations must take place, especially if the day is as significant as this. Easter is somewhat like Eid-ul-Fitr because after forty days of Lent in which believers fast, or give up eating or drinking something they like, at sundown on Easter Saturday this fasting comes to an end and the festivities begin.

Shops and bakeries began their preparations some days ago and though this festival is becoming almost as commercialised as Christmas, its religious significance has not diminished. Like all religious celebrations Easter too has rituals linked to age old customs and traditions, with different countries having their own special way of keeping them intact though the painting and giving of eggs; burning of candles and eating ‘hot cross’ buns; decorating the house with bunnies and lilies are common among all. There are many interesting facts about the origins of these customs and traditions which originated hundreds of years ago. It would be interesting to know what form they will have taken one hundred years from now!

Easter is also a celebration of spring, the name ‘Easter’ coming from the Anglo-Saxon ‘Eastre’ - a goddess of light or spring - whose festival was celebrated in April.

And a tit bit of information for those who do not know! Did you know that Easter never occurs before March 22nd or after April 25th?! A long dispute in the Christian church as to the proper time for celebrating Easter was put to rest by a decision taken by the Council of Nice in 325 A.D. fixing Easter on the first Sunday after the full moon after March 20th - the nominal date of the Spring Equinox. Happy Easter!