Monday morning, Charlie came to school very happy: - Wow! Next week is Easter Sunday! I will get many chocolate eggs!
Material received from Gisel Haddad / KSSF Kardecian Study Society of Florida - USA
- You know what Easter is, Charlie? - Asked the teacher.
- Well - he said - I think that is the day we get chocolate eggs from the Easter Bunny, right?
- No, Charlie it is not. Let's see if we can learn today what Easter really is.
"Long ago, ancient civilizations celebrated the arrival of spring. It was a time when the fields were full of flowers, the grass was green, announcing that the harvest was near, which would ensure there would be food for the whole population. At that time even the cattle increased. Many sheep were born, as well other animals, so the shepherds celebrated with love the arrival of spring and they gave to this party the name of Easter.
After Moses, the Jewish people started to celebrate Easter as a symbol of liberation from Egyptian slavery. Easter means "passage" in Hebrew.
Much later, at the time of Jesus, Easter had another meaning for the Christian world. We know that Christ came to teach love among people, but his message was not understood by most of the population and the kings of the time, and that’s why he was crucified. His crucifixion happened around Easter. After being crucified for three days, when it was taken off the cross, Jesus was buried in a secure place, a cave, which was closed with a big stone so that the body would not be removed from there by his friends during the night. Guards secured the place, and they saw the night the earth shook and that inside of the place where the stone was, Jesus appeared, as promised, rising from the dead after 3 days, thus proving that the life God gives is eternal.
When his followers learned of that they celebrated in joy, and as it was Easter (spring arrival celebration) they named that event the Easter of resurrection, which is now celebrated annually by Christians in some religions.
- That’s ok teacher. But what do the bunny and eggs have to do with it?
- I'll try to explain, Charlie. As you know, the egg is the symbol of life. It is through him that all animals are born and reproduce. Have you seen when the hen hatches the eggs that later on chicks are born, which will then become hens too? With this symbol we have the representation of Eternal Life, which was how Jesus always preached.
- But these eggs that you spoke about are not chocolate.
- Right! You are absolutely right. It turns out that in ancient times to celebrate Easter, the people present real eggs of birds whose shell was painted with great care to serve as a souvenirs and as reminders to the person to whom they were given, but these eggs had the disadvantage that they would easily break or rotten.
With the coming of the modern times, men decided to sell the idea and produced eggs of Easter made of chocolate, sugar, porcelain, aluminum and other materials that have served to keep the idea of the egg, with the advantage to celebrate Easter of Resurrection.
- And the rabbit?
- Well, the rabbit is the animal that represents the symbol of fertility and became the symbol of the resurrection of Christ because he was a smart animal, fast and always brings us the idea of joy and happiness. Therefore, they joined the image of the bunny and chocolate egg and kids were happy on the day of Easter, often without knowing the meaning of the day.
You are right teacher - said Charlie - I myself knew nothing about it and thought that Easter Sunday was the day the rabbit came to bring eggs for us. Now I know the story, since I will not be upset if I do not receive any eggs. I can eat chocolate any day, but the teaching of the resurrection of Jesus is one reason that I should keep in my heart and be happy that it happened. I hope that next Easter Sunday, I can celebrate the love that Jesus taught us with all the people who I know.
- Well Charlie, but remember that these teachings are for every day of our lives. We should always love our neighbors. On days of celebration, on normal days, on happy days and even the on sad days, because when we respect and love people, we are happy and that's what Jesus wants for all: "Love God above all things and your neighbor as thyself.”