Easter is a Christian festival celebrated in all Christian nations. Easter festivity takes place at the end of a-40 day fasting and prayer activity among Christians. However, the Easter idea itself is a feast that hardly falls on the same date each year. I may not really be able to say much about the irregularity of the date.
Not many people believe in the idea of Easter festivity due to doctrinal issues and difference. The Easter festive celebrations in Nigeria are heralded by Palm Sunday, a period depicting the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem. During this period,Christians whose doctrinal beliefs align with this period go to church. In some churches, people assemble on the street with palm branches, and in sober reflection, as a form of commemorating the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem. The presiding priest or pastor reiterates the selfless sacrifice Christ made for the church and His suffering for humanity. Some Nigerian Christians, when the Easter service is over, will go on the streets waving homemade palm branches, dancing and singing ‘hosanna in the highest’. Some also achieve various crafts using the palm branches, in their homes, as a symbol of His (Jesus) thorn crown.
On good Friday, the people forbid eating of meat and fish or any of such food with blood. It is usually a dedicated belief that shares in the sufferings and death of Christ when his blood was shed through crucifixion. Some churches hold various vigil or drama programmes, where the people act or imitate the passion of Christ. As part of what looks like reality in the programmethat same day, someone is dramatically nailed on the cross, acting out the reality of the role of Jesus. It is always interesting though to see a black Jesus. What a great faith!
On Easter Sunday, the people clad in colorful attires to church expressing their joy and thanksgiving for the resurrection of Christ Jesus. The white garment churches (Aladura) also parade in their garments with sound of music filling the air accompanied by other instruments to make a joyful sound to the risen LORD!
On Easter Monday, some churches celebrate at the beach. They gather together to make a joyful, noisy shout in rapid succession with the restless wave of the beach, saying Christ has risen and has appeared to them. Easter celebrations are big Christian festival in Nigeria.
Not many people believe in the idea of Easter festivity due to doctrinal issues and difference. The Easter festive celebrations in Nigeria are heralded by Palm Sunday, a period depicting the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem. During this period,Christians whose doctrinal beliefs align with this period go to church. In some churches, people assemble on the street with palm branches, and in sober reflection, as a form of commemorating the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem. The presiding priest or pastor reiterates the selfless sacrifice Christ made for the church and His suffering for humanity. Some Nigerian Christians, when the Easter service is over, will go on the streets waving homemade palm branches, dancing and singing ‘hosanna in the highest’. Some also achieve various crafts using the palm branches, in their homes, as a symbol of His (Jesus) thorn crown.
On good Friday, the people forbid eating of meat and fish or any of such food with blood. It is usually a dedicated belief that shares in the sufferings and death of Christ when his blood was shed through crucifixion. Some churches hold various vigil or drama programmes, where the people act or imitate the passion of Christ. As part of what looks like reality in the programmethat same day, someone is dramatically nailed on the cross, acting out the reality of the role of Jesus. It is always interesting though to see a black Jesus. What a great faith!
On Easter Sunday, the people clad in colorful attires to church expressing their joy and thanksgiving for the resurrection of Christ Jesus. The white garment churches (Aladura) also parade in their garments with sound of music filling the air accompanied by other instruments to make a joyful sound to the risen LORD!
On Easter Monday, some churches celebrate at the beach. They gather together to make a joyful, noisy shout in rapid succession with the restless wave of the beach, saying Christ has risen and has appeared to them. Easter celebrations are big Christian festival in Nigeria.
However, Easter celebration in Germany comes with different varieties. These varieties are celebrated on different Easter days. On Easter Sunday, children are tasked to search the garden for a nest containing variety of Easter gift items such as eggs, chocolates, rabbit candy etc. These nets containing these varieties are hiding by parents as a form of surprise and Easter treats for children to experience.
Asides that, Easter is also celebrated in churches as a form of appreciation and commemoration, it also serves as a tie that strengthens The German’s family bonds as members of the same family come together to eat on either Easter Sunday or Monday.
As part of the German Easter tradition, the celebration of Easter is always heralded by blossoming spring flowers and various traditional Easter trees decorated with different colourful painted eggs, as a symbol of newness of life. The various bright colours are symbolic of sunlight and growth. This practice has become a custom that started centuries ago. Other attractive fun-filled Easter celebration is the Easter rabbit, Easter bunny, which symbolizes fertility.
Though Easter celebration and festivity begins with Good Friday (Karfreitags),the German families avoid eating any blood-carrying meats in the spirit of solidarity with the death of Christ by eating fish, egg or spinach, which is traditional Good Friday lunch. Easter Saturday is a floor Easter market where handcrafted Easter eggs, a special Easter treat, is found.
The German families treat themselves to a good Easter lunch, which is the German traditional Easter food, after Easter Sunday church service. These foods include lamb, potatoes and fresh vegetables. On the evening of Easter Monday, each family comes together to drink coffee and eats Easter cakes. All these are significant and a commemoration of the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Praise God he is risen from the dead! Hallelujah!
