by Gabriel Lihan
KUCHING: It’s Easter Monday today! Happy Easter Monday to everyone!
When it comes to Easter, modern traditions of the long weekend around the world are often associated with Easter eggs, the Easter bunny and chocolates.
Easter eggs were believed to originate from medieval Europe or Anglo-Saxon festivals in the spring to celebrate pagan goddess Eostre.
However, as for Christians around the world, Easter is a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day of his crucifixion.
During the holy weekend, regardless of church backgrounds, race or ethnicity around the world. Christians celebrate Resurrection Sunday or Easter Sunday.
New Sarawak Tribune interviewed three Christians from different denominations on the significance of Easter.
Cecilia Reges, 60, who goes to St Faith Anglican Church at Jalan Kenyalang, said that Easter was a very important day for her because it reminded her of her own personal journey as a Christian.
She said Easter served as a reminder that Jesus died on the cross and had risen from the grave.
‘’I always look forward to celebrating Easter to give thanks to our Lord God, for His great and amazing love for me, “added Cecilia.
Ding Emang Jau, 46, a pastor of Borneo Evangelical Mission (BEM) Central City in Kota Samarahan, said that Easter was about the resurrection of Jesus.
Ding, who has been a pastor for 20 years now, said that every time Easter approached, he was reminded of the empty tomb.
After Jesus died on the Cross, he was buried in the tomb in Jerusalem.
Scholars have proved the empty tomb to be real; it dates back to 1,700 years ago, around 345 AD.
When asked whether the church distributed Easter eggs, he replied, “Yes, and it is for Sunday school and the children who attend church.”
Another person, Nicholas Tan Khanwei, 31 who attends St Peter’s Church, a Catholic church in Padungan, said Easter was a symbol of renewal and renewal of his baptismal vows.
He explained that the period of Lent allowed him to do an introspection of his life leading up to Easter.
‘’I look forward to hope. With everything that goes around us, hope is something we all need,” he said.
