The holiday of Easter has deep roots, with a blend of ancient Pagan spring festivals and the Christian celebration of Jesus’ resurrection.
Easter is traditionally a time of celebration for Christian denominations when they commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after his crucifixion. This day is central to Christian faith by signifying Jesus’ victory over death and the promise of eternal life.
Linganore High School (LHS) senior Elijah Costigan, a leader in the Christianity community and president of the Linganore branch of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), shared what Easter means to him and how he celebrates the holiday.
“Personally, Easter means God’s love, a remembrance of all he’s done and continues to do for us,” Costigan said. “For me, I think of his sacrifice which automatically makes me think of his relentless love.”
Every year, Costigan attends the Easter day service with his friends and family, but he also does other things to spend time with his Lord.
“Every year for Easter, my family and I usually spend time in prayer, taking communion, reading the Easter story in the Gospels and watching media such as “The Chosen” or the “Passion of the Christ” to remember [and] not to forget all of his sacrifices,” Costigan said.
To Christians, Easter is for praising Jesus, although some still celebrate with egg baskets and the Easter bunny. Those who are not Christian,however, primarily focus on the non-religious aspects of the holiday.
Costigan downplays Easter’s role as a sectarian holiday, highlighting its importance to Christians..
“Jesus’ sacrifice can’t be compared to chocolate eggs and what he did far surpasses any worth that an Easter egg hunt could give us,” Costigan said. “So, in conclusion, Jesus is the only reason why Easter matters, and if he is taken away from it, then it loses all its value.”
However, another member of LHS’ FCA, senior Marshall Stephens, shared the way he celebrates Easter has changed over time.
“For me as a kid growing up, Easter was all about the chocolate eggs, dinner spread and being with my family,” said Stephens.
Stephens explained that at a certain age the holiday took on a whole different meaning.
“But as I’ve come to the age that I am now, I truly understand the importance,” Stephens said. “And that for me is religion and the joy that I feel knowing the whole back story of Easter and why it’s been celebrated throughout all these years. And having that knowledge to share with my friends and family is genuinely the best feeling.”
Those who celebrate the religious purposes of the day also enjoy fun traditions such as Easter baskets. The chocolate, the baskets and gifts are not solely for non-Christian celebrants.
LHS junior Asha Prasad believes she has the best of both worlds for Easter. She gets to celebrate the Chrisitian origin while also having the fun opening gifts and diving into her Easter basket.
“Every Easter morning, I wake up and go downstairs to see big baskets full of little goodies and chocolate,” Prasad said. “Then, the whole family gets ready for the last Easter service at my local church to hear an insightful sermon. So, on top of getting a sugar high, I get to celebrate my religion.”
LHS senior Cara Morgan celebrates Easter in only traditional ways, instead of celebrating it inside a Christianity community.
“My Easter does not include religion but I have so much fun going to my cousins house with my siblings hunting for eggs, and dying eggs. Then, occisonally there’s a money prize in the golden egg if anyone can find it,” said Morgan.
