In the hierarchy of Christian festivals, Easter is the most important. Not because of the commercial pressure of an Easter breakfast, hidden eggs or decorated Easter branches in the window. Not even because of the annual thank you from the Pope for flowers from our country. This is why Good Friday and Easter are so important to Christians.
In the Christian faith, it is about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus has thereby redeemed man from all evil and sins, the Christians believe. That symbolizes eternal life.
That idea is central to Easter. In the run-up to this feast, there are a number of important days for believers, such as Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.
Maundy Thursday: The Passion
Many people will immediately think of the performance of The Passion, which tells the story of the last supper. Jesus ate that evening with his apostles. But he was betrayed by one of his disciples: Judas. He did that by giving Jesus a kiss, the kiss of Judas.
Good Friday
According to the Bible, Jesus was captured and sentenced to death by crucifixion the same day. Jesus walked with the cross to where he would be nailed. Jesus would die on the cross. This agony is still commemorated on Good Friday in many churches.
Silent Saturday
It is the last day of the Lent period that started the day after Carnival. On this day Jesus was laid in his tomb. Christians believe that Jesus will rise from the dead. Believers therefore hold a so-called Easter vigil. No bells are rung on Holy Saturday.
Easter
Easter Sunday commemorates the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. According to the story in the Bible, the great stone was rolled away from his grave. In our country we also celebrate Easter Monday, but that does not happen in all countries.
Main story
“The Easter story is the most important story in the Bible,” says Vincent Blom, plebaan (pastor) of Sint-Jan in Den Bosch. “It’s the core of Christianity and the raison d’être of my faith. Intuitively you’d say it would be Christmas, but believers know it’s all about Easter.”
Plebaan Blom notices that these kinds of important days are honored. “It has been busy in the church in recent days. The Easter fire is lit in the church on Saturday. The light always wins over the darkness. Easter is a hopeful party and we can use that right now.”
Ascension Day
Forty days after the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday, Ascension Day is celebrated. On that day Jesus ascended to his father God in heaven. The apostles stayed behind to spread the word of God. Ascension Day is always on a Thursday and is a mandatory day off.
Pentecost
Ten days after Ascension Day it is Pentecost. On that day it is celebrated that the Holy Spirit is poured out on the apostles, seven weeks after Easter. In images, the symbol of a fiery tongue or a dove is often used for this.
Easter, Ascension and Pentecost belong to the so-called Easter cycle. When these holidays are is calculated based on the position of the moon.