AmyHuang
Easters around the world
I hope everyone is enjoying their long Easter weekend. Easter used to mean a lot to me when I was younger and when we still went to church. As years roll by this religious holiday slowly loses its significance as it is now more commercialised and religious neutral as before. Just as I despise how much children gets spoilt during Christmas, I watch in horror as they gulp down my entire year's share of chocolates in one day.
Which made me think of the Easters I've had in other countries.
Easter in Poland
I spent the 2003 Easter in Poland with two of my good friends, one of whom was Polish so we were able to stay with her grandmother in Warsaw and other relatives in Torun. While being a student abroad it was so nice to have a family atmosphere and cooked meals and I sincerely loved the time we spent in Poland.
What I did notice was how much they treasured Easter and kept to a lot of the traditions that is not commercial. Instead of Sales and Easter Bunnies, the families were dressed in their traditional clothing, brought food and painted eggs to their local churchs to be blessed; churches had two 'guards' (rotation service between the firemen and the police) to symbolise the guarding of Jesus' tomb; and when Easter Monday came, us girls were warned to look out for cheeky and mischievious boys splashing water at passing females. "It's a tradition" they said, but no one really explained why. (P, if you are reading this, could you please elaborate in the comments below?
)
Easter in Calca, Peru
On Easter Friday 2006, we were instructed to wake early and help out in the kitchen. Most of us had forgotten about Easter as we were working with no clocks nor calendars to remind us the passing of time. We were met with a pleasant surprise as we marched into the kitchen and there it was, the tables were set up in a long row and 12 traditional treats (all sweet) were displayed along the centre of the tables. Our host mother explained to us that it was a Easter tradition imitating the last supper that we have these food in memory of Christ. So, just like a big happy family, we sat down and enjoyed a really sweet breakfast together, along with chicha morada, a refreshing local drink made out of purple corn.
Then, we decided that we wanted to go into 'town' to see what happens during Easter here in Peru, as the community we were staying in were all going to go to church.
We arrived in Calca, which was the nearest large town in the Urumbamba Valley. The church was in the main town square and all around it, the floors of the streets were covered with flowers, dried corn and grains as well as other spices made into different patterns and pictures. We went around one by one to admire the 'art works' when suddenly a commotion started to stir at the far end of the road leading up to the church. It was the parade coming our way. Faithfuls were gathered around the parade where people had a statue of Jesus held high up above their shoulders, covered in flowers and fruit offerings. They were singing, in praise of Jesus and his sacrifice and people lined up to welcome the entry of the statue into the church, where it will be 'laid to rest'
I am sharing these not because I want to 'preach'. I am not extremely religious anymore (personal reasons). I just think that these things are becoming more commercialised and an excuse to be out on buying sprees than what it originally came to be.
Would you also like to share a Easter story?
Which made me think of the Easters I've had in other countries.
Easter in Poland
I spent the 2003 Easter in Poland with two of my good friends, one of whom was Polish so we were able to stay with her grandmother in Warsaw and other relatives in Torun. While being a student abroad it was so nice to have a family atmosphere and cooked meals and I sincerely loved the time we spent in Poland.
Two firemen guards the alter at the local church in Poland to signify the guarding of Jesus' tomb
What I did notice was how much they treasured Easter and kept to a lot of the traditions that is not commercial. Instead of Sales and Easter Bunnies, the families were dressed in their traditional clothing, brought food and painted eggs to their local churchs to be blessed; churches had two 'guards' (rotation service between the firemen and the police) to symbolise the guarding of Jesus' tomb; and when Easter Monday came, us girls were warned to look out for cheeky and mischievious boys splashing water at passing females. "It's a tradition" they said, but no one really explained why. (P, if you are reading this, could you please elaborate in the comments below?
)Easter in Calca, Peru
On Easter Friday 2006, we were instructed to wake early and help out in the kitchen. Most of us had forgotten about Easter as we were working with no clocks nor calendars to remind us the passing of time. We were met with a pleasant surprise as we marched into the kitchen and there it was, the tables were set up in a long row and 12 traditional treats (all sweet) were displayed along the centre of the tables. Our host mother explained to us that it was a Easter tradition imitating the last supper that we have these food in memory of Christ. So, just like a big happy family, we sat down and enjoyed a really sweet breakfast together, along with chicha morada, a refreshing local drink made out of purple corn.
Then, we decided that we wanted to go into 'town' to see what happens during Easter here in Peru, as the community we were staying in were all going to go to church.
Local faithfuls gather around the statue of Jesus being paraded on the streets of Calca in Peru
We arrived in Calca, which was the nearest large town in the Urumbamba Valley. The church was in the main town square and all around it, the floors of the streets were covered with flowers, dried corn and grains as well as other spices made into different patterns and pictures. We went around one by one to admire the 'art works' when suddenly a commotion started to stir at the far end of the road leading up to the church. It was the parade coming our way. Faithfuls were gathered around the parade where people had a statue of Jesus held high up above their shoulders, covered in flowers and fruit offerings. They were singing, in praise of Jesus and his sacrifice and people lined up to welcome the entry of the statue into the church, where it will be 'laid to rest'
I am sharing these not because I want to 'preach'. I am not extremely religious anymore (personal reasons). I just think that these things are becoming more commercialised and an excuse to be out on buying sprees than what it originally came to be.
Would you also like to share a Easter story?
