HOW DO CHRISTIANS CELEBRATE EASTER?

THE NEW FIRE OF EASTER

THE NEW FIRE OF EASTER

• The Easter Vigil service is held in the night between sunset on Easter Saturday, and sunrise on Easter Sunday.
• Even though it can be held at anytime between these two times, it is most commonly on Saturday evening or at midnight.
• The service begins outside in the dark, where an Easter Fire is lit, and used to light the paschal Candle.
• It is always held in total darkness to represent sin.

THE PASCHAL CANDLE

THE PASCHAL CANDLE

• The Paschal Candle is a large white candle that is lit by the new fire of Easter.
• A new candle is blessed ever year and it is kept burning through the season of Paschal, and re lit at events like funerals and christenings.
• The flame represents Jesus, or God the Son.

WHAT DO THE SYMBOLS MEAN?

• The cross shows it is the Paschal Candle
• The Greek letters show that God is the beginning and the end.
• The date on the candle shows God is in the present.
• The five red grains of incence symbolise the five wounds of Jesus of the cross.

EASTER GARDENS

EASTER GARDENS

• An Easter Garden is similar to a model nativity scene. It is just for Easter instead.
• An Easter garden must have a mound of earth with a cross on it to represent the crucifixion, a stone or stone structure which represents the empty tomb, and lots of living flowers or grass. Whilst a more decorative one might have figurines and other things.
• The tomb will have white cloth inside. To represent it's emptyness.

EASTER EGGS

EASTER EGGS

• Eggs symbolised the resurrection or re-birth of Jesus.
• Traditionally eggs were painted but it modern times chocolate eggs are more common.
• It comes from the time where eggs represented life and birth.