Easter is on Sunday, April 4, 2021, the 23rd day of the second lunar month.
On this day, some families have to get up early to prepare for the festival, such as hiding boiled eggs in tree holes and inviting other children to visit their homes for them to find. Some parents also decorate Easter baskets.
It is stuffed with gifts, including chocolate eggs and plush toys, all of which have the meaning of blessing the new life and hope for the future.
In fact, before 325 BC, the festival could be celebrated at different times of the week.
It includes Friday, Saturday and Sunday, which is very controversial. In the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine, the Council of Nicaea was formed.
After the meeting, the standard for Easter was stipulated, that is, it was celebrated after the first full moon or the first Sunday after the spring equinox.
The origin of Easter eggs in Australia?
As we all know, Easter symbolizes hope and rebirth, and is a Christian festival to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus. 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 from China, the seasons are completely opposite. Summer is from December to February, autumn is from March to May, winter is from June to August, and spring is from September to November. 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 descendants of immigrants or 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 for 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 Indigenous people, and even the Morris Dance, which originated in England in the 15th century. Many Australians drive to the exhibition park during Easter and rent a small tent in the park to fully enjoy the leisure time with their families.
The origin of Easter includes Jesus’ execution, burial, and resurrection. The traditional Easter gifts are associated with spring and regeneration, eggs, chickens, rabbits (Easter Bunny), flowers. These traditions have been passed down in Australia. Easter eggs are not mentioned in the Bible, but people later gave them cultural significance. Eggs symbolize the place where new life is conceived, and the hard shell cannot limit the new life conceived inside. This metaphor is that Jesus Christ was crucified, buried in a tomb, and resurrected on the third day, giving new life to those who believe in him. Eggs have become one of the commonly used symbols of Easter. The Resurrection Rabbit (Bunny Rabbit) is based on ancient European legends. The hare is an animal that keeps its eyes open all day, and they can look at other animals around them in the dark, which is exceptionally sharp. In addition, the hare has a 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 most peculiar marsupials in Australia. Before Europeans set foot on the Australian mainland, there were two kinds of bilbies in the world: the common bilby and the little rabbit bilby, which became extinct in 1950. The common rabbit-eared bandicoot is found only in southern Australia. Its common English 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 commercial fur and is an endangered animal. Activities to protect the rabbit-eared bandicoot began in 1979. Now chocolate makers shape the chocolate in the shape of Bilby and donate some of the profits to protect the animal.
Interestingly, just before Easter, the Australian government has designated March 21 each year as “Harmony Day” (Harmony Day), which is also “United Nations Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination”. ” Harmony Day “is a celebration of Australia’s ethnic diversity, inclusiveness, 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, this day is also seen as a day to reflect on future challenges and continue to commit to eliminating racial disharmony.
