Easter is a Christian festival celebrating Jesus Christ's resurrection. It is preceded by Lent, a 40-day period of fasting and penance. Easter traditions include sunrise services, decorating eggs, and an Easter bunny that delivers eggs. The empty tomb of Jesus is symbolized by decorated and hidden eggs. Families celebrate with special foods, lighting candles in church, and saying "Christ has risen" on Easter.

1. Easter
9-4 grade
Mane Barseghyan

2. Easter in Armenia
 Easter is a festival and holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus
from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred
on the third day of his burial after his crucifixion. It is the culmination
of the Passion of Jesus, preceded by Lent, a forty-day period of fasting,
prayer, and penance. Easter and the holidays that are related to it are
moveable feasts which do not fall on a fixed date in the Gregorian or
Julian calendars which follow only the cycle of the sun; rather, its date
is determined on a lunisolar calendar similar to the Hebrew calendar.
Easter is linked to the Jewish Passover by much of its symbolism, as
well as by its position in the calendar. In most European languages the
feast called Easter in English is termed by the words for Passover in those
languages and in the older English versions of the Bible the term Easter
was the term used to translate Passover. Easter customs vary across the
Christian world, and include sunrise services, exclaiming the Paschal
greeting, clipping the church, and decorating Easter eggs. The Easter
lily, a symbol of the resurrection, traditionally decorates the chancel
area of churches on this day and for the rest of Eastertide. Additional
customs that have become associated with Easter and are observed by
both Christians and some non-Christians include egg hunting, the Easter
Bunny, and Easter parades. There are also various traditional Easter
foods that vary regionally.

3. Easter eggs
 Easter eggs, are decorated eggs that are usually used as gifts on the occasion of
Easter. As such, Easter eggs are common during the season of Eastertide. The oldest
tradition is to use dyed and painted chicken eggs, but a modern custom is to
substitute chocolate eggs wrapped in colourful foil, or plastic eggs filled with
confectionery such as chocolate. Although eggs, in general, were a traditional
symbol of fertility and rebirth, in Christianity, for the celebration of Eastertide,
Easter eggs symbolize the empty tomb of Jesus, from which Jesus resurrected. In
addition, one ancient tradition was the staining of Easter eggs with the colour red
"in memory of the blood of Christ, shed as at that time of his crucifixion. This
custom of the Easter egg can be traced to early Christians of Mesopotamia, and from
there it spread into Russia and Siberia through the Orthodox Churches, and later
into Europe through the Catholic and Protestant Churches. This Christian use of
eggs may have been influenced by practices in "pre-dynastic period in Egypt, as well
as amid the early cultures of Mesopotamia and Crete".

4. Easter in my family
We celebrate Easter with our family. We are preparing to Easter. My grandmother
prepares fish, eggs, fried greens and rice. I and my mother make cookies and coloring
eggs. The Easter day we go to the church and we bring home holly light. In evening we
sit at the table and say.
- Christ has arisen.
- Blessed is the resurrection of Christ.
A fun tradition is the “Tak a Tok” or the egg fight, wherein you try to crack the egg of
your opponent. Children roam with eggs in their hands and pockets, “fighting” with
each other. The one who cracks the other’s egg owns it. In order to gather more eggs,
sometimes children cheat and make mock eggs from stone, wood or paraffin.
Apparently a nail polish coating will make the real egg less likely to break.

5. Easter symbols
 The Cross:- This is the symbol for the Christian religion as Jesus was nailed to a
cross but then came back to life.
 The Easter Lily:- The lily was a reminder to the Christians of how Jesus came
back to life. The white Easter Lily is used in many Easter services. It is
supposed to be a symbol of the purity of the Virgin Mary.
 Easter Flowers:- Such as daffodil, narcissus and the tulip. Area symbol as they
bloom in the spring.
 Rabbits:- Rabbits are reminder of spring and new life. They were the favorite
animal of the spring goddess Easter.
 The Egg:- These are a symbol of spring as well as Easter. They are a sign of new
life.
 Chicks:- The chicks are born from eggs and are a reminder of spring and Easter.
 Candles:- Candles give light in darkness. Jesus is seen as "the eternal light"
showing Christians the way from death to life.
 Bread:- Unleavened flat bread is eaten to remember Jesus's sacrifice.
 Wine:- Red wine is drunk to remember Jesus shedding His blood for humans.
 Fireworks:- These are believed to frighten away evil spirits. They also show
that out of darkness comes light.