Top Ten Things to Know About Easter

10. Easter answers the big one. From the beginning, even today, people wonder: we're born, we grow up, we grow old, we die. Is that all there is? Easter says: No and yes! No, because there is life beyond death. Yes, because this life, here and now, is the start of something wonderful, and the end of this life begins the next.

9. Easter is our Passover. Our English name, "Easter" comes from a German word that means "dawn." But most languages call Easter "pascha," or Passover. On Passover, our Jewish sisters and brothers celebrate how, on the night before God led the Israelites out of slavery into freedom, they slaughtered and ate lambs, and marked the doors of their houses with the lambs' blood. The angel of death "passed over" their houses, killing only the first-born animals and children of their slave-masters. When Jesus-the Lamb of God-died on the cross, he passed over from death to new life. So will we!

8. Easter is about love that is stronger than death. Jesus could have escaped death. But he knew that all human beings die. So he chose to die to show us that God's love is stronger than death. Love can bring life out of death. Your love gives someone life.

7. Easter is about being baptized. The first Christians-like us today-celebrated Jesus' resurrection from the dead every Sunday. In the first century, they chose one Sunday a year-the Sunday Passover-to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus in a special way: by baptizing new believers and welcoming them into the community. We do the same on the night before Easter. We also renew the promises that we made or that were made for us when we were infants when we were baptized.

6. Easter is about being confirmed in the Holy Spirit. In the Gospel of John, on Easter night, Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to those who believe in him. The mystery of Easter fills us with the Holy Spirit and sets our hearts on fire with love and life.

5. Easter is about sharing the eucharist. The eucharist that we share every Sunday is a paschal-or Easter-meal: the real breakfast of champions. Jesus promises us that if we share in his sacrifice, if he share in this paschal meal, we shall pass through death to everlasting life.

4. Easter begins with a three-day celebration. Because Easter is the heart and high point of our church year, its celebration is unique: a rich liturgy that lasts for three days! (Don't worry: we take breaks!) Our celebration of Easter begins when the sun sets on Holy Thursday, and doesn't end until the sun sets on Easter Sunday. Try coming for the whole thing! It's called the Triduum, which is a Latin word that means "of three days." ( Learn more about the Triduum by clicking here .) Long, long ago, people made their calendars by watching the phases of the moon in the night sky. They didn't know yet about the earth revolving around the sun. Days were measured from sunset to sunset. So the three days of Easter are: 1) from sunset Holy Thursday until sunset Good Friday; 2) from sunset Good Friday until sunset Holy Saturday; and 3) from sunset Holy Saturday until sunset Easter Sunday.

3. Easter lasts for 50 days! The season of Easter begins on Easter Sunday and lasts until Pentecost Sunday-a period of 50 days. We fasted for 40 days in Lent. Now we party for 50 days of Easter! For our ancestors, the number 7 was the perfect number. There were 7 days in the week, so 7 represented fullness. So what happens when you multiply "perfect" times "fullness"? You get 49, right? But God always throws in one extra, so 50 is "perfect" times "fullness" plus one more for good measure: 50 days for celebrating! With God, there is always more!

2. Easter is for building peace and spreading joy. Ever since Jesus shed his blood on the cross, we finally figured out that we do not have to shed any more blood-ever. No more bloodshed! Not in the streets of La Villita in Chicago or in Gaza in Palestine! Not in the streets of Belfast or in Baghdad. Enough is enough! The first gift that the Risen Christ gives his friends is peace. (See John 20: 19-23) Then he says: "As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you!" Don't just stand here! Go! Build peace! And spread joy!

1. Easter is for you! How will you celebrate it? How will you invite others to share in Easter peace and joy?

Download the Top 10 Things to Know About Easter activity Sheet as a Word document.