Christians worldwide today celebrate their holiest day, Easter, which commemorates the Resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.

Easter has long been a mix of the secular and the sacred, of candy, flowers, colored eggs and bunnies, symbols of spring and of church and family tradition.

Across Alabama, Easter celebrates family, renewal and redemption. Many will share baskets of seasonal candy, then attend church wearing their Easter dresses and Sunday best.

Some start their observance as early as 6:30 a.m. with Easter sunrise services, where they worship as the sun rises, remembering the Sunday morning nearly 2,000 years ago when Jesus’ followers found an empty tomb, then later encountered a risen savior.

For devout Christians, there is a message to proclaim that supersedes decorated Easter eggs, which are symbols of spring and renewal.

Christianity’s humble beginnings trace to a moment when Jesus of Nazareth was crucified in Jerusalem, then part of the Roman Empire, about 33 A.D. The Resurrection startled even Jesus’ own followers, according to the Gospels. The disciples were skeptical, as is evident in Matthew 28:16-17. That the most ardent followers couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw the risen Jesus gives an indication how difficult the central doctrine of the Christian faith can be for modern believers.

One argument made for the reality of the Resurrection is the astonishing growth of Christianity from a few followers who scattered, frightened, when Jesus was crucified. At the time, the Apostle Paul wrote his letters, about 54 A.D., he said that more than 500 witnesses who had seen Jesus resurrected were still alive.

Easter celebrates that God offers meaning beyond death.

For Christians, the resurrection of Jesus after his crucifixion means he paid for their sins and resurrection is available to all believers.

According to the Gospel of Luke, Jesus was crucified with two criminals, one on each side of him. One mocked Jesus.

“Aren’t you the messiah?” he said. “Save yourself and us!”

The other criminal asked for mercy. “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus answers the penitent thief, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43, NIV)

In Eastern Orthodox tradition, which celebrates Easter next week on April 16, the holiday is called Pascha, from the Jewish Passover, since the events of Jesus’ death occurred at Passover.

The monk Bedethe Venerable, an important early Medieval Christian scholar who lived from 673 to 735 A.D., wrote that the Christians of England called it Easter after Eostre, a pagan goddess of spring and fertility who was celebrated in April. The Christian tradition layered in rituals celebrating the resurrection atop existing traditions celebrating, spring and renewal.

Dying Easter eggs red is a major part of the Orthodox Easter, with its symbolism.

The egg white represents the tombstone, the yolk is the life and the red dye represents the blood of Jesus.

On Easter Sunday morning, Orthodox Christians hold out eggs out and tap them together, with one person saying, ‘Christ is Risen!’ and another responding, ‘Indeed He is Risen!’”

The Council of Nicea in 325. A.D. based its calculations for Easter on the Julian calendar and said it must come after the Jewish Passover, and the Orthodox still follow that formulation.

A schism between Catholics and the Orthodox took place in 1054 A.D., ending the unity of the Christian church. The Gregorian calendar in use today through most of the world was established in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII, and the Orthodox refused to adopt it, which is why the Orthodox celebrate Pascha a week later if Passover has not concluded.

See also: Why is it called Good Friday?

Good Friday procession, steeped in tradition, recalls Jesus carrying cross

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