As we all know, Easter symbolizes hope and rebirth. It is a Christian festival to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus, and it is especially valued in Australia. Australians often hold grand festivals to celebrate during Easter. Australian students may wish to take this opportunity to experience the life of studying in Australia, which is very different from that in China.

Australia is located in the southern hemisphere. Although the time difference is only 2 to 3 hours with China, the seasons are completely opposite. December to February is summer, March to May is autumn, June to August is winter, and September to November is spring. Due to this feature, Australia is in the golden autumn season during Easter, and its Christmas is also a warm Christmas. Furthermore, Australia is a unique combination of different ethnic groups. Its Aboriginal people have lived in Australia for about 60,000 years, and other members are immigrants or descendants of immigrants who came to Australia in the past two centuries. Therefore, Easter celebrations are colorful. For example, on Easter Sunday, traditional people go to church to worship, and children exchange eggs; national folk art festivals, gardening competitions, entertainment performances, etc. are held every year during Easter. People can focus on the colorful folk crafts, costumes, jewelry, handicrafts and song and dance performances of Australia’s native people, as well as paintings and handicrafts representing the culture of Australia’s Aboriginal people, and even Morris Dance, which originated in England in the 15th century. Many Australians drive to the exhibition park during Easter, rent a small tent in the park, and fully enjoy the leisure time with their families.

The origin of Easter includes three parts: Jesus’ execution, burial, and resurrection. Traditional Easter gifts are associated with spring and regeneration, eggs, chickens, bunnies, and flowers. These traditions have been passed down in Australia. Eggs are not mentioned in the Bible, but people later gave them cultural significance. Eggs symbolize the place where new life is born, and the hard shell cannot limit the new life born inside. This metaphor symbolizes that Jesus Christ was crucified, buried in the tomb, and resurrected on the third day, enabling those who believe in him to receive new life. Eggs have become one of the commonly used symbols of Easter. The Resurrection Rabbit (Bonnie Rabbit) is based on ancient European legends. The hare is an animal with eyes open all day, and they can watch other animals around them in the dark, which is extraordinary. In addition, the hare has strong breeding ability in spring, so it is regarded as a symbol of Easter. After this custom was introduced to the United States, Americans also gave the rabbit a cute name, calling it the Easter Bonnie Rabbit!

In recent years, the bilby (Rabbit-earedBandicoot) has become an increasingly popular Easter gift. The bilby is one of the strangest marsupials in Australia. Before Europeans set foot on the Australian mainland, there were two species of rabbit-eared bandicoot in the world: the common rabbit-eared bandicoot and the small rabbit-eared bandicoot, the latter of which became extinct in 1950. The common rabbit-eared bandicoot is found only in southern Australia, and its English common name Bilby is derived from the Yuwaalaraay Aboriginal language of northern New South Wales. The rabbit-eared bandicoot is rare and found only in isolated patches of grass in the arid regions of Australia. It has been widely hunted for its fur and is an endangered animal. The campaign to protect the rabbit-eared bandicoot began in 1979. Now chocolate makers shape the chocolate into the shape of Bilby and donate a portion of the profits to protect the animal.

Interestingly, on the eve of Easter, the Australian government has designated March 21 each year as Harmony Day, which is also “United Nations Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination”. Harmony Day is an expression of Australia’s ethnic diversity, inclusion, and multicultural integration. The establishment of this festival provides an opportunity for all Australians to reflect on Australia’s multicultural society. At the same time, it is also seen as a day to reflect on future challenges and continue to commit to eliminating racial disharmony.