by Luana

Created on: April 03, 2007   Last Updated: May 11, 2007

Springtime is a season when everything is coming alive' again and that is exactly what the holidays celebrated represent seasons of 'Freedom and New Life.
The holidays in spring are

-Easter which includes Good Friday and Easter Monday
-Jewish Passover Festival
-Chinese Spring Festival
-Saint Patrick's day

The most widely celebrated holiday during this time of year is Easter and it is the most important for me too.

What is Easter ? The word Easter
1.which is of Chaldean/ Anglo-Saxon origin is a derivative of the word Ishtar or Astarte who was the goddess of fertility therefore the symbols of easter eggs and rabbits known for rapid reproduction, not forgetting hot cross buns' which was used in the worship of this goddess of heaven.

There was a difference of a month between the pagan worship of Easter and the Jewish Passover observed by early Christians but eventually with much violence involved Rome enforced Easter celebrations on the early Christians believers in Christ Jesus.

2.is also known to be derived from Eostre which is the name of the goddess of spring whom the Saxons of Northern Europe celebrated at the end of March,a time they called vernal equinox.

3.is associated with the rising of the sun in the east

Easter is not a Christian word however the events described below occurred during the celebration of the Jewish Passover which is now known to be during the time of the celebration of Easter.
The Christian story of Easter is a fascinating one that symbolizes celebration of a new life in the Resurrected Jesus Christ.
In the days before Jesus when some one sinned in order to be redeemed from that sin they would have to sacrifice an animal and through the animal's blood being shed their sins were forgiven.
God knew this was not a permanent solution so he sent Jesus Christ. 2000 years ago during this time Jesus Christ was brutally beaten and shamed, made to walk the streets with a heavy cross and crown of thorns on his head to Calvary where he was crucified by being nailed to the cross and pierced in his side with a sword to ensure he was dead. The day that he was crucified is called GOOD FRIDAY.
Why Good Friday because that was the day Jesus Christ took all of our sins to the cross for us as the sacrificial Lamb. People no longer needed to sacrifice animals for forgiveness of sins.
Now the story did not end here at the cross. Jesus Christ's followers then took him off the cross and buried him in a tomb. On the third day of this tragedy his mother went to the tomb and

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