How different denominations celebrate Easter

POLOKWANE – Easter Weekend is one of the most, if not the most, important events celebrated by Christians.

Easter is more than just chocolate bunnies, easter eggs and having a fun weekend with friends and family.

Different churches celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection in various ways and the Polokwane Observer spoke to representatives from different churches to find out how celebrations differ.

Protestant

Palm Sunday is celebrated the Sunday before Easter. Anglican churches give out small crosses made from palm leaves to keep in their homes.

On Maundy Thursday, Christians remember how Jesus and His disciples enjoyed The Last Supper. This is remembered by having Holy Communion, Eucharist or Mass.

On Good Friday, the crucifixion is remembered and during the service, congregants reflect on the meaning of the crucifixion.

Jesus‘ resurrection is then celebrated on Easter Sunday.

Roman Catholic

For Roman Catholics, the Easter period begins on Ash Wednesday where the congregation is dressed in sackcloth and ashes and a cross of ashes is made on their foreheads.

This signifies the start of the 40 days before the crucifixion. During this time, the church takes personal time to grow spiritually and physically in God.

This is done by fasting which is not necessarily only to abstain from food or drinking during certain times, but can also mean to sustain from actions such as jealousy and gossiping.

If you are tempted you have to think of how the devil tempted Jesus in the desert.

During the 40 days, the clergy wear purple garments and the church’s altar frontal should also be purple. All the crosses in the church are covered.

Every Friday during the 40 days, congregants visit the church where the stations of the cross are. This can be used as a pilgrimage to remind them of His pain.

Palm Sunday represents the end of the 40 days. Each member gets a palm leaf cross which is the core of their renewal in their believe in God. The purple colours are now changed to red to symbolise the passion of Jesus and there is Mass on the day.

The Holy week takes place from April 3 to April 8. On Holy Thursday, April 6, Mass is observed and the crosses in the church are opened again. The Priest will wash the feet of appointed church members.

Catholics believe, as an item of faith, the unleavened bread and wine is transformed into the body and blood of Jesus.

On Good Friday, April 7, Catholics commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus which is a somber event and Easter Sunday is a festive occasion.

Methodist

After the Lenten period of fasting, praying and seeking God, Methodists begin the Easter celebration on Palm Sunday where Christ enters His own city to complete the work of salvation.

This day is celebrated with an ecumenical procession together with the Anglican Church where congregants meet for liturgical prayers and blessing of palms.

They will then embark on a Holy Procession through Jorissen Street to their respective churches.

In preparation for the day of crucifixion, members enter solemnly into the Holy Week with evening devotions.

From Monday to Wednesday there are one hour evening devotions to prepare their minds and hearts for the mystery of the death and resurrection of Christ.

On Maundy Thursday, they meet again in the evening to celebrate Holy Communion in remembrance of the Last Supper Jesus shared with his disciples on the night in which he was betrayed.

Throughout the country, Methodists are known for their famous Seven Words Service (Mantswe a supileng). This is a service done by all Methodist Churches where the minister will take people through the journey of Christ to the cross and then seven preachers will preach on the seven statements proclaimed by Christ on the cross, giving them a meaning for today’s context.

On Holy Saturday, they conduct a remembrance service where they honour and remember all those members of the church who had passed away since last Easter.

The defining moment for Easter is Resurrection Sunday, which means life does not end at the tomb or in darkness but there is always light after darkness. This is a story of hope.

The women’s Manyano and Auxiliary will conduct an O Tsogile Service in the morning re-enacting the event of women who went to the tomb of Christ and found Him risen. This will be concluded by the minister serving Holy Communion which unites us with Christ and with one another.

Jehovah Witness

Jehovah’s observed the Memorial of Jesus Christ’s death, on April 4.

During this hour long meeting that started and ended with the song and a prayer offered by a minister of Jehovah’s Witnesses, there was a talk about the importance of Jesus’ death and how Jehovah’s can benefit from what God and Christ have done for them.

While Easter is a celebration of Jesus’ resurrection, the Memorial celebration is a solemn commemoration of Jesus’ death. Jehovah’s Witnesses observe this Memorial each year on the anniversary of His death according to the Bible’s lunar calendar.