PROJECTS

EASTER DAY

 

What happens on Easter Sunday today?

Christians gather together on Easter Sunday for a Sunrise Service. This service takes place on a hill side so everyone can see the sun rise.

Some Christians take part in an Easter vigil, lighting a new fire outside the church early on Sunday morning. The Paschal candle, decorated with studs to celebrate Christ's wounds, may be lit from the fire and carried into the church where it is used to light the candles of the worshippers. The Easter Eucharist is a particularly joyful service. It is a popular time for baptisms and renewal of baptism vows.

Some churches have an Easter Garden. A stone is placed across the mouth of a tomb before Easter, then rolled away on Easter morning.

The traditional Easter gift is a chocolate egg.

The Traditional Egg Gift

The first eggs given at Easter were birds eggs. These eggs were painted in bright colours to give them further meaning as a gift.

As chocolate became more wide spread in the 20th Century, a chocolate version of the traditional painted egg was developed. The size of the chocolate egg has grown over the years and is now more likely to be the size of an ostrich egg rather than a small birds egg.

GOOD FRIDAY: HOLY FRIDAY

In 2011 Good Friday is on 22 April. It is a UK public holiday

What is Good Friday?

On Good Friday, Christians remember the day when Jesus was crucified on a cross.
When is Good Friday?
Good Friday is the Friday before Easter Sunday (Easter Day).
The date of Good Friday changes every year.

What was the date for first Good Friday?

The date of the first Good Friday will never be known.


Why is it called Good Friday?
The name may be derived from 'God's Friday' in the same way that good-bye is derived from 'God be with ye'.
It is 'good' because the barrier of sin was broken.


What happened on Good Friday?

Jesus was arrested and was tried, in a mock trial. He was handed over to the Roman soldiers to be beaten and flogged with whips. A crown of long, sharp thorns was thrust upon his head. Jesus was forced to carry his own cross outside the city to Skull Hill. He was so weak after the beating that a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, was pulled from the crowd and forced to carry Jesus' cross the rest of the way. Jesus was nailed to the cross. Two other criminals were crucified with him, their crosses were on either side of him. A sign above Jesus read "The King of the Jews."

Traditional Food
It is traditional to eat warm 'hot cross buns' on Good Friday. Hot Cross Buns with their combination of spicy, sweet and fruity flavours have long been an Easter tradition.

Why do we eat Hot Cross Buns ?

The pastry cross on top of the buns symbolises and reminds Christians of the cross that Jesus was killed on.

MAUNDY THURSDAY: HOLY THURSDAY

Maundy Thursday 2011 falls on 21 April

What is Maundy Thursday?
Maundy Thursday - also called Holy Thursday, is the beginning of the three day celebration of Easter- the most important time in the year for Christians. This period ('The Triduum') is one big celebration, remembering the last supper, the crucifixion and the death of Jesus, and the Resurrection to new life.
Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles.
The Last Supper
On this day, Christians remember the Last Supper. During the meal Jesus took bread and wine and shared them with his disciples. Christians continue to share bread and wine as part of their worship in church.
The Last Supper was probably a Passover meal – the meal which Jewish people share together to celebrate the time when God delivered Moses and the people from slavery in Egypt.
The night of Maundy Thursday is the night on which Jesus was betrayed by Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane.
When is Maundy Thursday?
Maundy Thursday is the day before Good Friday. It is one of the lesser known days of the Christian Calender.

Maundy Thursday 2011 falls on 21 April

What is the origin of the name Maundy?
The name 'Maundy' is derived from the Latin word “mandatum”, meaning a commandment. Jesus Christ, at the Last Supper, commanded:

'And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.' John 13:34

The washing of feet

During the Last Supper, Jesus washed his disciples' feet. This act has sometimes been followed literally in history as a good way of reminding rulers that they are here to serve their subjects.
What once happened in England on Maundy Thursday?
In England, the custom of washing feet by the Monarch was carried out until 1689. Up until then the King or Queen would wash the feet of the poor on Maundy Thursday in Westminster Abbey. (You should, however, note that the feet were first washed by Yeoman of the Laundry before the monarch had to wash them and kiss them!). Food and clothing were also handed out to the poor.