Honoring the Spring and More
@Honoring the Spring and More 象徵重生與希望的復活節
Most of the world knows what Christmas is and the reason it is celebrated. However,Easter, which is observed on a Sunday as early as March 22 or as late as April 25, is probably less understood. For Christians, it is an important time of year. The holiday stresses the fact that Jesus came back to life after he was crucified1 for people's sins. Easter celebrates this resurrection2, which took place some 2,000 years ago.
In fact, Easter was once a pagan3 holiday that celebrated the arrival of spring and honored its goddess4 ─ Eostre. The spring brought warmer weather and new growth in both plants and animals. Thus, the season is often associated with rebirth5. What's more, Eostre's symbol was the rabbit, which represented fertility6 and went on to become the legendary Easter Bunny.
Easter also marks the end of Lent7, which is a period of praying, fasting8, and doing good deeds that lasts for 40 days. It is a time for people to reflect on what they have done and ask for forgiveness as well as focusing on helping others. As you can see, Easter is a celebration of life, death, and so much more.
大部分世人都知道何謂聖誕節，以及要慶祝這個節日的理由。然而，對於最早可於三月二十二日、最晚可於四月二十五日當中的某個星期日來慶祝的復活節來說，或許人們就沒有那麼瞭解了。復活節是基督徒一年之中相當重要的一個時節。耶穌為洗刷世人罪惡而被釘死在十字架上，隨後又起死回生，這正是這個節日所要強調的重點。復活節所慶祝的，正是發生在大約兩千年前耶穌的復活。
事實上，復活節曾一度是個異教徒的節日，用意是在慶祝春天的到來，並同時尊崇春之女神Eostre。春季為動植物都帶來了較溫暖的天氣以及新一季的發育。因此，這個季節常被人與重生聯想在一起。更進一步的是，Eostre的象徵動物正是代表繁殖能力的兔子，而兔子也進而演變成傳奇著名的復活節兔。
復活節同時也代表了四旬齋的結束，在四旬齋的這四十天中，人們必須祈禱、齋戒並且做善事。這段期間是要讓人們反省自己的所作所為、向上帝祈求寬恕，以及致力於幫助他人。誠如您所見，復活節是歡祝生命、死亡以及其他更多事物的慶典。
Most of the world knows what Christmas is and the reason it is celebrated. However,Easter, which is observed on a Sunday as early as March 22 or as late as April 25, is probably less understood. For Christians, it is an important time of year. The holiday stresses the fact that Jesus came back to life after he was crucified1 for people's sins. Easter celebrates this resurrection2, which took place some 2,000 years ago.
In fact, Easter was once a pagan3 holiday that celebrated the arrival of spring and honored its goddess4 ─ Eostre. The spring brought warmer weather and new growth in both plants and animals. Thus, the season is often associated with rebirth5. What's more, Eostre's symbol was the rabbit, which represented fertility6 and went on to become the legendary Easter Bunny.
Easter also marks the end of Lent7, which is a period of praying, fasting8, and doing good deeds that lasts for 40 days. It is a time for people to reflect on what they have done and ask for forgiveness as well as focusing on helping others. As you can see, Easter is a celebration of life, death, and so much more.
大部分世人都知道何謂聖誕節，以及要慶祝這個節日的理由。然而，對於最早可於三月二十二日、最晚可於四月二十五日當中的某個星期日來慶祝的復活節來說，或許人們就沒有那麼瞭解了。復活節是基督徒一年之中相當重要的一個時節。耶穌為洗刷世人罪惡而被釘死在十字架上，隨後又起死回生，這正是這個節日所要強調的重點。復活節所慶祝的，正是發生在大約兩千年前耶穌的復活。
事實上，復活節曾一度是個異教徒的節日，用意是在慶祝春天的到來，並同時尊崇春之女神Eostre。春季為動植物都帶來了較溫暖的天氣以及新一季的發育。因此，這個季節常被人與重生聯想在一起。更進一步的是，Eostre的象徵動物正是代表繁殖能力的兔子，而兔子也進而演變成傳奇著名的復活節兔。
復活節同時也代表了四旬齋的結束，在四旬齋的這四十天中，人們必須祈禱、齋戒並且做善事。這段期間是要讓人們反省自己的所作所為、向上帝祈求寬恕，以及致力於幫助他人。誠如您所見，復活節是歡祝生命、死亡以及其他更多事物的慶典。
