Happy Easter!
Canada’s population comes from all regions of the world. To encourage you to explore our country’s rich diversity, each month we highlight an important date, event, festival or celebration from the Multicultural Celebrations Calendar.
This month, we highlight the Christian celebration of Easter, which will be celebrated on Sunday, April 20. The dates are often different in Western and Eastern Christianity, but they coincide this year.
The precise date of Easter varies each year depending on a lunisolar calendar. Christians celebrate Good Friday and Easter in commemoration of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Jesus Christ was crucified on a cross by the Romans in Jerusalem c. 30 Anno Domini. According to the Bible, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day following his burial, establishing his supremacy over death and ability to save those who choose to repent from their sins and believe in him.
To commemorate Easter, Christians participate in church services and exchanges of Paschal greetings (“Christ is risen!”). In some traditions, the Easter lily, a symbol of the resurrection, is used to decorate churches.
In other traditions, Easter eggs are decorated and broken in commemoration of the empty tomb. In more recent times, various commercial non-religious practices have become associated with Easter, including Easter parades, the consumption of chocolate eggs, egg-hunting and the Easter Bunny.
Traditional Easter foods vary by region and culture. In many countries lamb is eaten, mirroring the Jewish Passover. Hot cross buns, a spiced sweet bun marked with a cross on the top is eaten in many Commonwealth countries. Various stews, pies, eggs, pastries and breads are favorites in Greek, Italian, Russian, Serbian and Ukrainian traditions.
On this occasion, we encourage you to wish your Christian colleagues Happy Easter!
If you would like that we highlight a cultural event to create awareness about the rich cultural diversity of Canada, please do not hesitate to write to me. That way, we all learn about each other, to promote mutual understanding, respect, and collaboration.
Stay safe, stay well!
Respectfully,
Waheed Khan
President, National Consultation Team