http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-963116.mp3
Albany, NY – In today's Academic Minute, Dr. Dyron Daughrity of Pepperdine University reveals the different ways Christians around the world celebrate Easter.
Dr. Dyron Daughrity is an assistant professor of religion at Pepperdine University where he teaches courses on the history of Christianity and the history of theology. In 2010 he published The Changing World of Christianity: The Global History of a Borderless Religion.
About Dr. Daughrity
Dr. Dyron Daughrity - Easter Around the World
Since Christianity is the world's largest religion, then Easter may be Earth's biggest holiday. Bunnies and yellow chicks aside, Easter is the most important day in the Christian calendar. While the essence remains that Jesus Christ was crucified on Friday and resurrected on Sunday the global diversity of the weekend is mesmerizing.
Americans typically buy chocolate and concoct tales of a bunny rabbit that runs around the neighborhood delivering gifts to children.
Germans light huge bonfires on the Saturday of Easter weekend to chase away evil spirits and welcome the warm weather.
While Eastern Europe is famous for making intricate Easter eggs, the most marvelous examples are the Ukrainian pysankas. The leviathan of all is the "Vegreville Egg" in Alberta Canada at 31 feet and over 5000 pounds.
In the Czech Republic and Slovakia it is common to create pomlazkas braided pussywillow whips as boys playfully lash the girls.
In Bermuda, the locals celebrate Good Friday by flying kites that represent Jesus' ascension.
In the Philippines, devotional crucifixions are common on Good Friday as penitents are routinely nailed to crosses.
In South Africa, the Zion Christian Church gathers over one million pilgrims for Easter a crowd larger than even the Pope's at Rome!
A few Christian nations have animal sacrifices at Easter such as Greece's Kourbania and Armenia's Matagh.
Perhaps the most important Easter rituals occur in Jerusalem as Christians from all over the world gather to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, commemorating his death, burial, and resurrection.
Traditionally, Easter Sunday meant the fasting season of Lent was over. Today, however, its celebration has become as diversified as the human race itself. Academic Minute Home
