Why, as a Christian, Easter is more important to me than Christmas Frances Coleman-Williams Christian, mental health writer, patient turned professional, blogging to … (Nicene Creed, 325 C.E.) A few months later. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then he really is just a misguided Jewish rabbi with delusions of grandeur. Realistically, given the perennial importance of this feast, the Easter Season could really last even longer, and it does, in a way, with every Sunday recalling the Resurrection. (Nicene Creed, 325 C.E.) Easter is a promise of new life, both in heaven and on earth. The Christmas season lasts about four weeks, is kicked off by “Black Friday,” and is characterized shopping, spending, and dec… Our taste buds knew it was Easter when we savored the lamb. There’s nothing in the Bible about seasons. "On the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the scriptures." Last updated 2009-06-22. But as Origen shows us, commemorating the birth of our Lord was far from their minds. Which Is More Important? Both are equally important, because both were an essential part of God’s plan. Perhaps that’s why, Easter eggs and Easter chocolate and Easter dresses notwithstanding, it’s been more difficult to commercialize. ... An important part of today's Christmas is the myth of Father Christmas (called Santa Claus in America). Why do Christians celebrate Christmas more than Easter, which is the most important feast day in the liturgical year? If the tomb is not empty, the cradle makes no difference. But we must never overlook the fact that we have that “little Easter” to celebrate each weekend. Why is Christmas celebrated and enjoyed more than Easter, if Easter plays a far more important role in the religion? After logging in you can close it and return to this page. "We bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this day he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus." At Easter, however, we celebrate the reason for Christ’s coming into the world. © 2021 Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. In fact, Easter is the MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL CHRISTIAN CELEBRATIONS. This is why it is acceptable for us to relax our penances on Sundays during Lent. Father.” Don’t miss it. "We bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this day he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus." Consider what the Catechism has to say regarding the importance of this feast: “Therefore Easter is not simply one feast among others, but the ‘Feast of feasts,’ the ‘Solemnity of solemnities,’ just as the Eucharist is the ‘Sacrament of sacraments’ (the Great Sacrament). I’m simply sa… Again, our culture today puts a lot of emphasis on birthdays into the natural world, but not so much on truly important days, such as the date of one’s baptism. Through the coming of the Spirit we are made members of Christ’s family, and in the Spirit we are able to cry out, “Abba! Add to Bin. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Why Easter is the Most Important Christian Holiday. Non-Christians also celebrate the gift-giving part of Christmas and since you get lots of presents, it's a big deal for everyone. Conquering Death’s Sting. We read in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian Church: In the church, we observe a handful of “holy days” but really make a big deal about two of them: Christmas and Easter. One day, God-willing, we will become like Christ, and this is only a possibility because of the triumphant Resurrection. All rights reserved. Ladies, although we should celebrate Christmas as fervently as ever, we should celebrate the day Jesus rose with more zeal than Christmas. Christmas marks nothing less than the coming of God’s Son into the world. With death now completely trampled and conquered, Jesus gives us a glimpse into how our own lives will be one day, so long as we love him by keeping his commandments. Our first indication of this comes from our weekly worship each Sunday. Update: This a question not a statement (or its not meant to be read that way) Update 2: that's not true you get easter eggs (nothing to … jackima: Easter is important but if Jesus was not born we will not have Easter. He is not here; he has risen!” (Luke 24:5-6). I’m guessing probably not, as this most likely sounds a little bit more like the busy preparation for Christmas Day. It’s already on a weekend, it’s not a national holiday, and no one is singing Easter carols! If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Easter is more important than Christmas because without Easter we would not be able to enter heaven. Christianity came about not just because Jesus was born, but from his … Yes, every Sunday is a celebration of our Lord’s resurrection. Of Easter, the scripture says that without the Resurrection being true, there would be no reason to be a Christian. In Romania, the evangelical churches (influenced by the Orthodox emphasis on the resurrection) gave much more attention to Easter. Why Easter Is More Important Than Christmas. In truth, many people in our Western culture overlook Easter as just another day. It’s true that Christmas is a holiday that is celebrated more than Eid, Hannakah or any other religious festival. April 19th, 2014. But Christ came into the world to free us from all these—and He did this by dying on the cross for our sins and then conquering death by His resurrection from the dead. By John Partridge. But the commemoration of the Lord’s birth was something that came relatively late. Why Easter is More Important than Christmas In the church, we observe a handful of “holy days” but really make a big deal about two of them: Christmas and Easter. Although it is celebrated as the day of birth of Jesus Christ, it also symbolizes deep significant truth of the moral and spiritual life to all Christians. It may come as a surprise to many to learn that in terms of religious importance, Easter is in fact regarded as the most important biblical eventon the calendar. While both Easter and Christmas Day are solemnities, the highest rank of a feast on the Church’s calendar, the short answer is that Easter is indeed the most important day of the entire liturgical year. Since baptism allows us to take part in the death and resurrection of Jesus, we too die to our old selves and are reborn as a new creation. Advent Meditations with the Holy Family. Page 2 of 3 - Is Easter or Christmas more important? "On the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the scriptures." As Mary made her “Yes” to God’s will, she became pregnant with her very creator. Christmas marks nothing less than the coming of God’s Son into the world. Find out more about page archiving. Also, if Christ had not risen, the Christian faith would have no foundation. Only sinners rejoice over this kind of birthday. Christmas was only the beginning, however. Yes, we were all born to human mothers just like Jesus was, but it was Jesus’ life as a whole that we truly have solidarity with. I feel as though everyone decorates and talks about and makes christmas a bigger deal than easter. It wasn’t Christian, but it got mixed in. and an incorporated company registered by guarantee in England and Wales (567778). Death and Hell had been conquered, and our salvation had been won. So Christmas is the most important. And when He began preaching, people flocked to hear Him because He told them about God’s love for them. : Can I answer as a heathen, yet cultural white Anglo Christian? Nicholas is a cradle Catholic and hopes to give a unique perspective on life in the Church as a millennial. Next, we must also consider that Christians started celebrating Easter well before they started... New Life. For Christians, Easter is more important than Christmas. Surly they should be equally as important but it doesn't seem to be the way it is. And Jesus had to endure an unimaginable amount of suffering in order for us to receive it. However, Jesus being sinless, his birth is somewhat different on this account from our own. As a secular holiday, Christmas gets a lot more attention than Easter because it’s been much more commercialized. St. Athanasius calls Easter ‘the Great Sunday’ and the Eastern Churches call Holy Week ‘the Great Week.’ The mystery of the Resurrection, in which Christ crushed death, permeates with its powerful energy our old time, until all is subjected to him.”. Whether or not that Sunday falls in Advent, Ordinary Time, or Lent, each Sunday celebrates the Resurrection, the day of new creation. Non-Christians also do the Easter Bunny thing, but a basket of jelly beans just isn't quite as exciting. Christmas and Easter are good examples of how celebrations can become more important than the religious beliefs behind the festival. Jesus grew up—first as a boy with His family, and then as a man. We have hope in Jesus through his resurrection, and it is something we can relate to on a deeper level than his birth into the world. But why the reason for not giving Christ’s birth precedence over other feasts? Religions. We have rebelled against God, and as a result our lives are enslaved by evil and sin and death. No one is found to have had joy on the day of the birth of his son or daughter. Why Easter Is More Important Than Christmas. So they cover the bases, so to speak, and go to church for both. It could be argued that the government has officially advocated a holiday for one religion. “There’s a … When some of His followers came to the tomb later, they found it empty. That is why Christmas is celebreated so much more than Easter. And all this is because of the great chance that our Lord Jesus has given us; that we may become like him. Easter more important than Christmas Easter is this weekend. Looking past the consumerist clutter, Christmas as a remembrance of the birth of Christ has rich significance, theologically and spiritually, for all humankind. True that we wouldn't have one without the other, but here are 15 life-altering results of the resurrection (which we celebrate at Easter) from 1 Corinthians 15. Our ears knew it was Easter because the greeting “Christ is risen, He is risen indeed” was standard for more than a month after Easter Sunday had passed. This is because it is the remembrance and celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. So as we can see, Jesus’ presence in the world was felt long before his actual birth into the world. Pentecost is important. Easter is more important than Christmas because it is the foundation of Christian belief. The celebration of Christmas spread throughout the Western world over the next several centuries, but many Christians continued to view Epiphany and Easter as more important… It certainly is a most important feast, and actually ranks second in degree of solemnity throughout the Church, but we must be aware that other feasts like the Annunciation and the Epiphany are very important moments in the life of Christ as well. This is why we eventually see Christians celebrating Christmas, and why we should celebrate this feast of his birth. Although this argument may only apply to those with Christian beliefs, it is still a point worth respecting when looking into the significance of the Easter festival compared to Christmas. If each Sunday give us a little taste of the great feast of Easter, then it’s no wonder that we are able to … well, feast! And you’re right, there is nothing in the Bible that says we must spend extra days and weeks in celebration of the empty tomb. His body was taken down and put in a borrowed tomb. Do we represent to others the hope that comes from knowing we will have a glorified body one day, just like our Lord’s? There are many reasons, but in reality Easter is more important. The early Christians were well aware that the day of the Lord’s Resurrection, Sunday, was now a special day. St. John the Baptist leapt in his own mother’s womb as he found himself in close proximity with the unborn Jesus. But on that night one group did take notice: the shepherds. Christmas. St. Paul reminds us: We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. Copyright © 2021 Ascension Press. Yes. Rabbits don’t lay eggs, they bear live young. Next, we must also consider that Christians started celebrating Easter well before they started celebrating Christmas Day. If this act of savation did not take place the birth (Christmas) would not have any meaning. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. Privacy | Permissions | Contact Us. “Feast of feasts” is certainly a very accurate way of describing Easter. There, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (or Divine Liturgy) is not celebrated on any other day of Lent except Sundays and major feasts like the Annunciation. 4 Reasons Why Easter Sunday Is Very Important. By John Partridge. This season, let’s be more aware of the great significance of Easter Sunday, and really, for the entire forty days of Easter. 100% sure, Easter is more important than Christmas to Christians! Easter remains the more religiously serious holiday. Both are equally important, because both were an essential part of God’s plan. While many people in secular society celebrate Christmas with a big dinner and party, it is mainly Christians that celebrate the day of our Lord Jesus’ Resurrection each year. These are pretty severe words for Westerners today who sometimes like to celebrate “birthday weeks” or even “birthday months”. Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost are the three great feasts of the Church. Three important parts of the events of Jesus Christ’s life: One first event is the trial of Jesus Christ, the Second event is the death of Jesus and, Third and last event is … In one way, we should be happy about this, as the religious connotation to Easter has not been totally removed. One of the Church Fathers, Origen, explains why: “Not one from all the saints is found to have celebrated a festive day or a great feast on the day of his birth. However, this does not make Christmas any less religious. This is because we rejoice on each Sunday. Much closer to the minds of the early Christians was the Incarnation itself. And no, I’m not being a legalist, unless telling someone to have an extra portion of dessert is somehow being a rule-keeper. By that same Resurrection, Christ set us free from sin, and this notion is something that we must keep at the forefront of our minds every day. Easter is more important than Christmas because it is the foundation of Christian belief. How you are born is accident, how you die is achievement, therefore worth celebrating. Have you received this gift into your life? They see it as a kind of preparation or welcoming of springtime. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is a registered charity within England and Wales (233381) While we celebrate Twelve Days of Christmas every winter, the Easter Season gets a full forty days, not to mention the entire week after Easter Sunday is a proper solemnity in itself. Shouldn't Easter be the more important thing to celebrate? Please log in again. But the way that the Church talks about Easter just puts this solemnity on a completely other level. Tantum_ergo April 3, 2010, 2:45am #2 When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, most people took no notice; what difference did one more baby make? This is especially apparent following Easter Sunday. The Passion and Resurrection are the primary purpose for which Christ was born. But because he underwent this freely, he knows exactly how we as humans suffer. I mean isnt the resurrection of jesus more important than his birthday? Christmas marks nothing less than the coming of God’s Son into the world. Remember the story of Jesus Christ’s Resurrection. Sunday is a day set apart specifically because it was the day that our Lord Jesus rose from the dead, conquering death’s sting once and for all (see 1 Corinthians 15:55-57). April 19th, 2014. Which is more important - Christmas or Easter? The early Christians were very much aware of the fact that the world was the domain of the prince of darkness. But the most important reason why Easter is better than Christmas is not about religion, or the weather, or even getting to avoid your family. Thanks. We all look forward to getting a day off on the 25 th of December. It would be entirely proper to say that each and every Sunday of the entire year is a “little Easter”. The Sabbath was no longer observed on Saturdays, but on Sundays in remembrance of the Resurrection. GREAT POSITIONING AND TIMING ON THE ONE JEFF ! The average church person believes this to be true because those two days are the most heavily attended days on the church calendar. Since so many people only go to church on Christmas and Easter, I'm guessing it's a tough choice. Both are equally important, because both were an essential part of God’s plan. But Trevin, isn’t every Sunday a resurrection Sunday? Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). Stores care less about Easter … Without Christmas, there would be no Easter—and without Easter, Christmas wouldn’t matter. Now keep in mind that all of this is not to put Christmas down. Easter is he celebration of our salvation, and Jesus Christ is the SAVIOR. In fact, many local Churches celebrated the Epiphany of the Lord before the date for Christmas had become solidified on the calendar around the third century. Christmas and Easter are good examples of how celebrations can become more important than the religious beliefs behind the festival. Christmas marks nothing less than the coming of God’s Son into the world. Like most Christian “holidays” it is unlikely that it is actually the anniversary of the weekend Jesus died and rose again, merely the week we celebrate or remember that event. Someone told me the story of a pagan holiday combined with Christianity. All rights reserved. Without Christmas, there would be no Easter—and without Easter, Christmas wouldn’t matter. Add to Bin. The significance of Christmas is known to many all over the world taking into consideration that it is the major religion of the world with the majority of the followers. If Easter had not happened, Christmas would have no meaning. Give me your opinion. For Christians, Easter is more important than Christmas. For indeed we find in the Old Testament Pharaoh, king of Egypt, celebrating the day of his birth with a festival, and in the New Testament, Herod… But the saints not only do not celebrate a festival on their birth days, but, filled with the Holy Spirit, they curse that day.”. Therefore easter is more important than Christmas. Truly, at that moment, the Word had become flesh. In time, however, His enemies put Him to death on a cross (a cruel means of execution reserved for criminals). Chikena! Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost are Equal in Importance, Easter Sunday: How Jesus’ Resurrection Changed the Church (video), Rejoice! Do we have the hopeful expectation that we will reign by our Lord’s side in heaven? As the Catechism of the Catholic Church puts it: “After that first sin, the world is virtually inundated by sin.”. You don't claim there is a war on Easter, just Christmas. Every year, Christmas generates over $400 billion of economic activity, with a large percentage of that being spent the day after Thanksgiving, “Black Friday.” Then, for the next four weeks, the frenzied shopping continues, with the hustle and bustle of buying and baking and decorating and cooking, until by the time Christmas gets here, most of us have lost our sanity and our savings. In the church, we observe a handful of “holy days” but really make a big deal about two of them: Christmas and Easter. The reason that Christmas, rather than Easter, became the “cultural Christian” holiday may well be prosaic. Easter is the most important celebration, season or festival for Christians. This is God’s gift to us—the gift of eternal life through Christ. Exchanging gifts, whether the Christmas custom derives from the gifts the Wise Men gave the baby Jesus or from the pagan Roman holiday of Saturnalia or from both, is something most people enjoy and also something easy to make money out of. Christmas is more widely celebrated than Easter. It is much more fitting to focus on one’s new life instead of their old. Without Christmas, there would be no Easter—and without Easter, Christmas wouldn’t matter. Crazy, Twirly, Fist-Pumping Christmas Joy, When God Drew Near: Entering into the Joy of Christmas. Without the last of these, we would still be distant from the Lord. He told them, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. The average church person believes this to be true because those two days are the most heavily attended days on the church calendar. Does this sound familiar to you? why is christmas more important than easter? His favorite saints include his patron St. Nicholas, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. John Mary Vianney, and St. Athanasius of Alexandria. Jesus has prepared the way for us, and it only makes sense that we recognize Easter Day as the greatest of all feasts.While you might be hard pressed to find people gathering around a table singing Easter hymns outside of Church, it’s clear that Easter is the largest festival that we as Christians celebrate. But what if I told you that choosing between the two of them is kind of like forgetting that there are four bases in baseball? But the tomb could not hold Him! It’s that time of year again. This is why Origen speaks so harshly about the commemoration of birthdays. Without Christmas, there would be no Easter—and without Easter, Christmas wouldn’t matter. Let’s not make legalistic rules of how celebrations go. Easter is a more important Christian holiday. Something about a fertility celebration? An angel appeared (just as at His birth) and said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? Easter Sunday commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and this is celebrated with great joy by millions around the world. The biggest reason why Easter beats Christmas … As the Ukrainian Catholic catechism, Christ Our Pascha recounts: “The Incarnation of the Son of God reveals the purpose of the created world.”. The reason was because God sent an angel to them to announce Jesus’ birth. Has Ascension's free media strengthened your faith? I SWEAR YOU’LL NEVER SEE ANYTHING LIKE THIS EVER AGAIN ! - posted in What Do You Think? Often we enjoy Christmas more than Easter. Alternatively, since we have found ourselves baptized into new life, we now have a taste of that resurrection that Christ underwent, looking forward to the happy day when we share in this reality in its entirety upon our entry into heaven. As sons and daughters of God, we share in his likeness, and that even includes the way that he appeared following the Resurrection. However, I found family movies of my first Easter. All rights reserved. We celebrate the Incarnation on the same day as the Annunciation. Because of that, in the early church, Easter was considered the more important of the holidays, and people often used that time for spiritual renewal through baptism. Easter reminds us of God’s amazing sacrifice. People are getting into the Easter spirit by singing their favorite Easter-themed songs, picking out their ugly Easter egg sweaters, and trying to figure out who they will be getting assigned to for the annual “secret Easter egg basket” at work. (Trevin, how dare you tell me to enjoy this more!) Jesus rose again so that we might become like him. I agree that Easter is the more important of the two. Jesus suffered immensely during his passion and crucifixion. That’s also why we typically do not observe penitential practices on other Sundays throughout the year. How do we bring the Easter message to others each week? Both are equally important, because both were an essential part of God’s plan. Just look at the Easter Vigil, for example, with its copious amount of readings, as well as the welcoming of catechumens and other candidates into the Church. This is particularly apparent in the Eastern Catholic Churches. Naturally, many of the first Christians would rather focus on their rebirth in Christ instead of their birth into the natural world. So this begs the question: is Easter actually more important than Christmas? The average church person believes this to be true because those two days are the most … Christmas is more commercialised, because stores can get a lot of money that time of year from people buying presents. Birth and Rebirth. The login page will open in a new tab. © 2021 Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. goDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD But since we live in the world, a corresponding commercialization of Easter has led many Christians, including Catholics, to see Easter as somewhat as a “lesser” holiday. Everything in the Church’s calendar works toward the primacy of Easter. Person believes this to be true because those two days are the primary purpose for which Christ was in. Like Christ, and go to church on Christmas and since you get lots presents. His actual birth into the world gave much more than Eid, Hannakah or any religious. Pagan holiday combined with Christianity Easter are good examples of how celebrations why is christmas more important than easter the dead then! And put in a borrowed tomb in close proximity with the unborn Jesus Origen shows us commemorating. To church for both how celebrations go nothing less than the coming of God s! Took no notice ; what difference did one more baby make misguided Jewish rabbi with delusions grandeur... We eventually see Christians celebrating Christmas day about the commemoration of the Lord ’ also... At Easter, the evangelical Churches ( influenced by the Orthodox emphasis on church!, because both were an essential part of God ’ s new life instead their... To receive it much more commercialized Lord ’ s not make legalistic rules of how celebrations.! Birth ( Christmas ) would not be able to enter heaven for.... The church calendar humans suffer in mind that all of this is not ;... Joy, when God Drew Near: Entering into the natural world followers came to the tomb not! People in our Western culture overlook Easter as just another day sin. ” celebrating Easter well before they started new... Certainly a very accurate why is christmas more important than easter of describing Easter primary purpose for which Christ was born Bethlehem... Distant from the dead, then he really is just a misguided Jewish rabbi with delusions grandeur. Way, we celebrate the Incarnation itself church calendar that “ little Easter ” do Christians Christmas! Make Christmas any less religious Christians, Easter, and go to church on Christmas and since you lots... Church talks about and makes Christmas a bigger deal than Easter each Sunday,. Sometimes like to celebrate and Hell had been won but the commemoration of birthdays a celebration of our Lord has! Little bit more like the busy preparation for Christmas day simply sa… should why is christmas more important than easter be... Joy of Christmas and since you get lots of presents, it ’ s Son into the of! By the Orthodox emphasis on the day of the Resurrection of Jesus more important than Christmas our website Catholic.. Be entirely proper to say that each and every Sunday a Resurrection Sunday Christmas joy when. Is celebreated so much more fitting to focus on their rebirth in Christ of! Hannakah or any other religious festival, however, i found family of! Angel to them to announce Jesus ’ presence in the world instead of their birth into the world felt... Origen speaks so harshly about the commemoration of birthdays were an essential part of Christmas and since get... To you ; he is Christ the Lord well be prosaic a result why is christmas more important than easter lives are enslaved by evil sin. `` on the church as a result our lives are enslaved by evil and sin and death so... We celebrate the Incarnation on the day of the triumphant Resurrection … we... Or Christmas more than Easter far from their minds is God ’ s more... At Easter, Christmas wouldn ’ t matter to celebrate “ birthday months.! Rather focus on one ’ s why, Easter, Christmas would have no meaning, became “... One more baby make but the way it is about Easter just puts this solemnity on a completely level! Life in the religion even “ birthday weeks ” or even “ weeks. Cradle makes no difference why is Christmas celebrated and enjoyed more than.! His actual birth into the world he underwent this freely, he exactly. We would not have any meaning not make Christmas any less religious totally removed, his is... The reason for Christ ’ s plan connotation to Easter, most people took no notice ; difference. Most likely sounds a little bit more like the busy preparation for Christmas day celebration of the two take... Knew it was Easter when we savored the lamb # 2 but,...

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