HAPPY EASTER!

By Klaus Doring

Emperor Constantine (272–337 AD) imposed eight consecutive public holidays in Rome, a period called the “Octave of Easter.” Monday, like the other days, was a public holiday. Masses were held every day to celebrate the Easter feast. During this period, pilgrims could also take the opportunity to travel to Rome. This Easter octave, however, came to an end under Napoleon Bonaparte.

From 1801 and the signing of the Concordat with the pope, the then-first consul undertook to reorganize the practices of the Catholic Church in France. He also removed public holidays, which numbered 50 at the time. Napoleon chose to keep Assumption, Ascension, Christmas and All Saints’ Day. On the other hand, he abolished the public holiday week following Easter, keeping only one day exempt from work: Monday.

To die is to live! We are always shocked when, in the middle of our daily lives, somebody passes away. Our usual questions are: “Why die so young? Why he, why she?” A natural reaction, indeed.

When Jesus finally gave up His spirit on the cross after three hours of bitter agony, the Pharisees said: “Finally, that impostor is gone. He deserved to die that kind of death!”

Let’s remember: After the waving of tree branches by the Jewish crowd and the hosannas of Palm Sunday, the arrest of Jesus after Judas betrayed Him in the Garden of Olives, the imprisonment and humiliation of Holy Thursday night, and the carrying of the cross, crucifixion and death on Good Friday, Jesus Christ rose from the tomb on Easter Sunday — glorious, and never to die again!

For Jesus, dying was not the end of everything. It was the beginning of a new life. Symbolically, we see the Easter Resurrection of our Lord depicted in various ways, which always point to life after death. Especially in parts of the world where deep winter lets all plants and trees “sleep” for a couple of months, people enjoy the spirit of the new shoots that come out of the big trunk of a tree.

Eggs were symbols used in springtime long before Christianity came into existence. Eggs symbolize life, which causes growth. Since Easter usually occurs in springtime (March or April), which is already summer in the Philippines, this egg symbol was still in use among the pagans of early times when Christians were celebrating Easter.

A blessed Easter to all of you, my dear readers. Walk this day with great confidence in your heart, mind and soul.

And enjoy your egg hunting with your loved ones!

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Comments, suggestions, ideas? Feel free to email me at doringklaus@gmail.com, or follow me on Facebook or LinkedIn, or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com.