The Easter season marks the end of Lent, the fasting period for Christians. People celebrate Easter differently. Partners Intern Pauline Luba asked four students from three universities how they usually celebrate the Easter season and what the season means to them.
Ananda Tayebwa, 21, final year Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication at Uganda Christian UniversityAs a Catholic, the Easter season is a really special time for me. It’s the time when we remember the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus Christ paid for us, sinners, by dying on the cross and celebrating his resurrection. This brings hope to us that we, too, will resurrect and find new life in Heaven.
To me, Easter is a time of renewal, forgiveness and joy. As Catholics, to
prepare adequately to celebrate Easter, we ought to fast, like we did during Lent, confess our sins and also give alms.
Honestly, I didn’t know that people actually celebrated the Easter bunny. This practice, in my view, clashes with traditional Christianity in that it draws people away from the main focus, which is Jesus and His defeat of death. I think it’s fascinating how the different denominations celebrate Easter because regardless of what we believe, we all acknowledge it’s a time for joy and celebration.
Across Christianity, the overall message is one of hope, redemption, and the victory of life over death. It’s a reminder of God’s love for us and the promise of eternal life through Jesus. It’s a powerful and uplifting message that unites Christians around the world.
With a friend, we used to visit another common friend of ours, to discuss issues of faith. Part of the debate we always had was about God and science. At the time, we had almost no faith in God’s teaching. As a result, the Easter season would pass just as any other holiday season. The Bible wasn’t making scientific sense to me.
However, thanks to our frequent visits to our friend, we soon started to believe in God’s existence. I reverted to Christianity in my final year in A’level. The Easter season brings family members together and is really symbolic of the love of God.
About 11 years ago while still in primary school, we would decorate eggs with glitter and then participate in the Easter egg hunt, after which we would share a meal. However, I no longer participate in the egg hunt anymore.
Traditional Christian Easter practices focus on the resurrection of Jesus. The Easter period is a time to reflect, pray and donate to charity. It would be important if the true meaning of the Easter celebration is drummed up in the minds of the children, so they understand it from a young age.
As they mature and outgrow the Easter bunny games, I believe that their focus will shift towards the religious aspect of the holiday and that they will appreciate it for what it truly represents.
Easter is a holiday season we look forward to every year and, usually, we celebrate it with sermons on Sundays. We are usually encouraged to live our lives the way Jesus Christ did. After church, people usually go home to spend time with their families, play games, eat food and sometimes we have movie nights where we watch movies like the Passion of Christ and other plays. Easter can be celebrated in whichever way one dims fit. I think the way one celebrates the death and resurrection of Jesus should not affect the way another person celebrates, as long as they believe in the saving grace of our Lord and savior.
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