About Easter

Easter

Easter includes: the Lenten fasting, egg exchanging, eating, decorating, egg hunts carnivals and Easter parades.

Easter is a spring festival. Easter is one of the main festivals for the Christians /քրիստոնյաներ/, as it celebrates the resurrection /հարություն/of Christ. The Easter chick symbolizes /խորհրդանշում է/ new life, the rabbit- fertility /բերրիություն, բարեբերություն/ and the egg symbolizes both. That is why people give each other painted eggs or chocolate eggs as presents at Easter.

Easter Traditions and Customs

Easter Egg Hunt

Egg hunt is an old tradition. People follow this tradition in many countries of the world. Parents hide decorated eggs and children try to find them in the house or backyard.

Decoration of Eggs

Decorating the Easter eggs can be as important as the egg hunt. People decorate not only the natural chicken eggs, but also  some mouth-watering chocolate eggs.

Church Service

People go to the church to listen to prayers /աղոթք/ and chants /օրհներգություն/.

Easter Feast

 People make  tasty dishes and families gather at the beautifully decorated table. For example, in Armenia we eat fish, rice porridge (or pilaff) with raisin. In America and Europe the traditional Easter dishes are lamb, beef, chicken, smoked ham, cheesecake, chocolate bunny cakes. There are also a lot of Easter dessert recipes: chocolate carrot cake, candy strawberries, banana pan cake, marshmallow peeps, cupcakes and many more.

 Easter Icons

Easter eggs & baby chicks

Eggs and chicks symbolize new life. Eggs have been a symbol of spring since ancient times. An egg also is a symbol of the rock tomb out of which Christ came when he arose again. The chick, hatching out of the egg, symbolizes new life or re-birth.

 Easter bunny

The rabbit, or hare, was a symbol of abundant /առատ/ new life in ancient times, and reminds us of spring and new life.

 Easter Lilies /շուշան/

The white flowers symbolize the purity of Jesus. Lilies grow in spring. They also symbolize new life and the resurrection /հարություն/ of Christ.

 Legend tells that white lilies sprung up /գոյացան/ from the ground where drops /կաթիլներ/ of Jesus’ blood and tears fell during his last hours.

Today, many churches use large bouquets of lilies to decorate their altars and crosses during the Easter.

 The lamb – Represents Jesus, “the Lamb of God”.

The cross – Symbolizes Jesus’ victory over death.

Palm branches

When Jesus arrived in Jerusalem on the first Palm Sunday people waved palm branches, welcoming him.

Easter hats and new clothes

At Easter people wear new clothes and bonnets (hats). This symbolizes new life.

Hot Cross Buns

Hot cross buns have a cross of icing (cream glaze) on the top to remind people of Christ.

Candles – Symbolize Jesus, “the light of the world”.

Pretzels

A food people eat during Lent /Մեծ Պահք/- the twisted bread symbolizes arms crossed in prayer.

Easter & Spring flowers- Daffodils /նարգիզ/ and tulips /վարդակակաչ/ bloom in the spring, and symbolize spring and new life.

Easter Symbols

 The Butterfly is one of the important symbols of Easter. Its life cycle (ցիկլ) symbolizes the life of Jesus Christ. The first stage (փուլ) is the caterpillar (թրթուր). It is Christ’s life on Earth. The second stage is the cocoon (բոժոժ). It portrays (պատկերել) the crucifixion (խաչելություն) and burial (հուղարկավորություն) of Jesus. The third and final stage is the butterfly. This stage portrays His raising from the dead.

 

Easter Flowers

White Lilies

Daisy

The sweet-smelling daisies symbolize purity.
Azalea

 

A beautiful spring flower, the azalea, is famous for its elegant color. People give it to those people who are dear to them and they want them to take care of themselves.  

Daffodil
 The daffodil is one of the most popular Easter flowers and has a romantic meaning. People give daffodils to their true love. Or it can indicate your respect for the person and that you feel very happy to be with him/her.

Chrysanthemum
 The chrysanthemum as an Easter gift indicates that the recipient is precious for you and you wish him/her greater happiness in life. A white chrysanthemum represents truthfulness. 

Tulips

 The beautiful tulip flower is a sign of love. A favorite Easter flower for lovers. The red tulip says “I Love You”, tulips of any other color mean “Our Love Is Perfect”. Giving a yellow tulip to someone means you are “hopelessly in love” with that person. 

Hyacinth (հակինթ)
This flower is famous for its sweet fragrance (անուշահոտություն). A purple hyacinth means “please forgive me” while a white one symbolizes the recipient is lovely or that you will pray for that person; a yellow hyacinth indicates jealousy (խանդ) whereas a pink or red hyacinth says “Let’s play!”.