EASTER FEATURE THE WEEKLY GLEANER
The origins of
EASTER T
HE WORD ‘Easter’ is thought to be derived from the Scandinavian word ‘stra’ and Teutonic words, ‘stern’ or ‘Eastre. Both Ostern and Eastre are mythological goddesses of spring and fertility. Their festivals were celebrated on vernal equinoxes. Easter traditions are closely related to the festival, i.e., Easter rabbits and brightly coloured Easter eggs. Easter rabbits are symbolic of fertility, and brightly coloured Easter eggs are symbolic of spring’s sunlight, as well as fertility, creation, and new life. Rabbits are known for the great capacity to produce in abundance, especially during Spring. Christians interpret and celebrate Easter through converging religious traditions. Emphasis is placed on the Jewish festival, Passover, an important feast celebrated for eight days, commemorating the Israelites flight and freedom from Egyptian slavery. In Exodus 12, the
Bible speaks of when the angel of death ‘passed over’ the Israelites’ dwellings, sparing their first-born. Passover is celebrated during the first month of the Hebrew year. Many early Christians were raised in the Hebrew tradition, but possessed Jewish origins. They regarded Easter as a new facet of the festival of Passover celebrating the advent of Jesus, the Messiah, as foretold by the prophets ( Luke 24:44-48). Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead at the feast of the Passover in Jerusalem. Controversial, Christians of Jewish and Christians of Gentile origin, differed on the day of Easter’s observance. Western churches observe Easter on the first Sunday following the full moon that occurs on or after the spring equinox of March 21. Eastern churches, who are closer to the birthplace of Christianity and have a stronger connection to older traditions,
observe Easter according to the Passover festival’s date. Easter occurs at the end of Lent. The Lenten season is 46 days of penitence in preparation for Easter. The six Sundays in Lent are not a part of Lent, however, are considered a commemoration of Easter Sunday. These Sundays are excluded from the Lenten fast.
HOLY WEEK The last week of Lent is Holy Week, which begins with Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday is representative of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Crowds laid palms at his feet. The Last Supper, held the evening before Christ’s Crucifixion, is commemorated on Holy Thursday. The anniversary of the Crucifixion of Jesus, the day he was crucified and died on the cross for our sins, is held on the Friday of Holy Week (Good Friday). Easter Sunday, the day of Christ’s resurrection, is the culmination of Holy Week and Lent.
CONTRIBUTED
Easter eggs.
Traditional Jamaican Easter activities EGG AND water set from sunrise on Good Friday morning. Bleeding heart tree letting out a red sap at Midday on Good Friday. No meat for 40 days after Ash Wednesday. These were just some of the traditions that Jamaicans used to practise along with the ever popular bun and cheese and going to church around Easter. However, those practices were done eons ago when ‘peenie wallie’ and the Tilly Lamp were the prime source of light and electricity was still a luxury for the rich.
TRADITIONS These days, some of these traditions have disappeared or is fast becoming a feature of yesterday as with many of our traditions. But the traditions listed above were done religiously. For example, setting the white of an egg in a glass of water in the sun, in order to have an indication of one’s future was done on Good
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Friday morning at sunrise. The eggs set in the sun took various shapes. For example, a ship and plane means you will be travelling overseas. A ring and wedding cake meant marriage; and a coffin means the death of a family member. A separate tradition was to cut the physic nut tree at about midday on Good Friday. At that time, the sap was supposed to run red instead of white.
SACRIFICE Another practice was to desist from all forms of meat and feed on fish and vegetables for the season of lent before formally ending the no meat fast after Good Friday. On Good Friday others went to church. However, apart from going to church, most of these practices seems to have met a slow death - at least in Kingston and the Corporate Area. “Out in the country people still cut the Physic Nut tree
‘These days, some of these traditions have disappeared or is fast becoming a feature of yesterday as with many of our traditions’ but I can’t ever recall seeing one in Kingston,” said 66 year-old Florence Richards. “I know of people who have done the egg and water one in Kingston and I have done it myself but I don’t
think a lot of people do it now,” she added. She said she had tried the egg and water out of curiosity and saw an air plane. And, as destiny would have it, two years later she was comfortably seated on a flight to the US. She is not the only one who has seen it done or who has tried out the traditions. Sylvia Fung said she tried cutting the Physic Nut tree. She said she saw the red sap coming out much to her surprise. “I have cut the Physic nut and I have tried the egg and water. I once had cousin who did the egg and water and she saw a coffin. She died shortly after,” said Fung. No one knows for sure where these traditions came from. However, the egg and water practice is said to have originated in pagan Europe and found its way to our shores through the English. It is said that the egg was used for magic as well as being eaten on the Saturday after Good Friday.
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