EASTER is celebrated by many people all over Australia. Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and is one of the most significant events on the Christian calendar.
Easter dates vary from year to year, because it falls on the Sunday after the ecclesiastical full moon which appears on or after March 21.
So, Easter can be any time between late March and late April and, for Eastern Christian churches, it can extend to early May.
There are many traditions or feast days relating to Easter, such as:
■Palm Sunday: celebrates Jesus Christ's journey into Jerusalem.
■Shrove Tuesday: The last day before Lent. Traditionally families who were fasting would eat the food that would go off before Lent finished.
■Ash Wednesday: Marks the beginning of Lent and often involves the anointment of an ash cross on the forehead.
■Lent: The 40-day period before Easter.
■Maundy Thursday: This is remembered as the day of the Last Supper.
■Easter Sunday: Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on this day.
■Pentecost: Celebrated seven days after Easter, it marks the birth of the Christian Church.
Away from religious traditions, Easter treats such as hot cross buns and Easter eggs and the Easter Bunny feature heavily in Australian society.
There is also a four-day-long weekend over the Easter period.
The long weekend is one of the busiest travel periods in Australia as it also coincides with the school holidays.
It is marked by church services and is a popular time for family gatherings.
The Sydney Royal Easter Show also takes place over the Easter period. The event is held over a couple of weeks with a range of activities and events, such as a rodeo, amusement rides and exhibitions.
Source: australia.gov.au.
