Easter — is the main Christian holiday, since the entire Christian faith is based on the fact of the resurrection of Christ. This is also the oldest Christian holiday. There are accurate testimonies and descriptions of the celebration itself, dating back to the mid-2nd century: it was the oldest Easter holiday in memory of Jesus, with a long all-night vigil until the morning, at which the Eucharist was celebrated.
This holiday united death and Resurrection, the cross and the ascension of Christ, and this was subsequently expressed in the concept of Easter of the ancient Church (Easter — with the Hebrew pesach, passa = transition), that is, it was a holiday of Christ’s passage to life and salvation, thereby, humanity from death.
In Lutheranism, Easter Night, as the original Christian Easter holiday, remains today the highest point of the entire church year. The Easter service, and here analogies can be drawn with the Orthodox All-Night Vigil, begins on Easter Saturday, shortly before midnight. Fire and water are emphasized in this service.
One lit candle is brought into the dark church, decorated with the Greek letters A (alpha) and Ω (omega) – with the initial and final letters of the Greek alphabet. In accordance with the words of Christ («I am alpha and omega, I am the beginning and the end»), they symbolize that in His hands is the beginning and end of the life of every Christian. And in some places for a long time there was a tradition of burning an effigy of Judas – of the disciple of Christ, who betrayed Him, in front of the church.
The joy of the resurrection of Christ and the joy of starting a new life finds its place in receiving gifts and giving them on Easter morning to children, friends, relatives, acquaintances and strangers. On this day, children are looking for gifts hidden the day before by their parents – gifts of the Easter hare, playing Easter games. As a rule, these are colored eggs of the most unimaginable colors and shades. In addition to eggs, some nice little thing – laces, hairpins, crafts, etc. can be hidden as a gift. The afternoon is usually accompanied by a concert.