英语复活节作文：复活节-Easter

Eastertraditionsandsymbolsareabundant.ButwhataretheoriginsoftheseEastertraditions?LearnthehistoryofEastertraditionshere.
　　TheEasterSeason
　　Easterisnotonlyaholidaybutaseasonuntoitself.Tomanyreligiouspeople,itmarksatimeofmiraclesandareaffirmingoffaith.Tothosewithamoresecularviewoftheworld,itisacelebrationoftheendofwinter,atimetolooktowardthewarmthofthecomingsummerandachancetoshedtheheavyclothingofthewinterforthebrightcolorsofspring.
　　TheDateofEaster(April16,2008)
　　Goddessofthespring
　　Easterisamovableholiday,whichiscalculatedasthefirstSundayafterthefullmoonthatoccursonorafterthevernalequinox.IfthefullmoonfallsonaSunday,thenEasteristhefollowingSunday.TheholidaycanoccuranywherebetweenMarch22andApril25.ThisyearEasterisApril16,2008.
　　ThepaganoiginsOfEaster
　　LongbeforeEasterbecametheholidayitistoday,thespringfestivalwascelebratedbythepeoplearoundtheworld.Thecelebrationwasoriginallybasedonthelunarcalendar.ThenameEasterisderivedfromtheSaxonEostre(whichissynonymouswiththenameofthePhoenicianGoddessoftheMoon,Astartephoto),aGermanicgoddessofspringandthedeitywhomeasuredtime.
　　TheChristianoriginsofEaster
　　”ForGodsolovedtheworldthatHegaveHisonlySon,sothateveryonewhobelievesinHimwillnotperishbuthaveeternallife.GoddidnotsendHisSonintotheworldtocondemnit,buttosaveit”(John3:16-17).
　　AsChristianitygrewandspreadthroughouttheworld,itwascommonpracticetoadopt,modify,convertortakeoverexistingnon-Christianfestivals.BecauseEostrewasthegoddessofspringandhersymbolismdealtwithrenewalandrebirth,theChristianbeliefintheresurrectionofChristfitwellwiththesethemes.
　　**TheEasterstoryofJesus(photo)
　　AngelsAdoringtheHeartofJesus,byVicenteLopezPortana
　　OnGoodFriday,JesusChristwasexecutedbycrucifixion.Hisbodywastakendownfromthecross,andburiedinacave.Thetombwasguardedandanenormousstonewasputovertheentrance,sothatno-onecouldstealthebody.
　　OnthefollowingSunday,somewomenvisitedthegraveandfoundthatthestonehadbeenmoved,andthatthetombwasempty.Jesushimselfwasseenthatday,andfordaysafterwardsbymanypeople.HisfollowersrealisedthatGodhadraisedJesusfromthedead.
　　**TheEasterVigilService(15April2008)
　　TheEasterVigilservice(photo)isthefirstEasterservice,andtakesplaceonthenightofHolySaturday.HolySaturdayistheSaturdayafterGoodFridaywhichisoften,butwrongly,calledEasterSaturday.
　　TheideabehindtheserviceisforfaithfulChristianstowaitandwatch,hopefulandconfidentthatChristwillreturnatmidnight.
　　TheEastercandle(photos)islitduringthisservice.Theservicetraditionallybeginsoutsidethechurch,whereministerandsomeworshippersgatheraroundafire–acharcoalbrazieriscommon.
　　Theservicebeginswithwordslikethese:
　　BrothersandsistersinChrist,onthismostholynight,inwhichourLordJesusChristpassedoverfromdeathtolife,theChurchinviteshermembers,dispersedthroughouttheworld,togatherinvigilandprayer.
　　Afterbeinglitoutside,thecandleiscarriedintothechurch,wheremostoftheworshippersarewaitingindarkness,whichsymbolisesthedarknessofChrist’stomb.