What is Easter Day? How is Easter celebrated in the USA?

easter-day-MAE-pascua-eeuu

Easter is one of the most representative religious festivities of the Christian calendar. Although in Spain the tradition is oriented to more penitent values of guilt or mourning, in the United States Easter is known as Easter Day, or simply Easter, and is celebrated in a different way.

Do you want to know what Easter day is and how Easter is celebrated in the USA? We won’t hide it, we’ll find out together.

What is Easter Day?

Easter Day is a religious holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after His crucifixion. According to Christian tradition, Jesus Christ died on the cross on Good Friday and was resurrected on Easter Sunday.

The celebration of Easter in the United States

Easter in the United States is celebrated in a unique way and combines religious and cultural traditions. It is a festival celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon of spring, which can vary between late March and mid-April.

Easter marks the end of Holy Week, a week of religious commemoration that begins with Palm Sunday and ends with Holy Saturday. This holiday is a very important one for Americans, who celebrate it with great enthusiasm and fervor throughout the country.

The church is the main place where the celebrations take place, but there are also other traditions and customs that are practiced in homes and communities.

Easter Traditions and Customs in the United States

The Easter bunny as a figure

The Easter bunny is a popular symbol on Easter Day. He is the mythical character who carries and brings Easter eggs and candy to the children. This character is often depicted as a rabbit dressed in human clothing and carrying a basket full of Easter eggs.

Easter egg hunt

One of the most popular and most idealized traditions in the United States is the Easter egg hunt. And it is just as you imagine it, the Easter eggs are decorated and hidden in the garden of the house for the children to look for them.

These events are also held on a large scale between communities, with search contests rewarding the one who finds the most. On this holiday it is also very common to give chocolate eggs and candies in the shape of bunnies and chicks.

Easter basket

Another popular Easter Day tradition is the creation and delivery of Easter baskets. These baskets are filled with sweets and treats and are often given to children as gifts.

Easter Parade

The Easter Parade is a celebration that takes place in many cities in the United States. It is composed of floats decorated with Easter themes, music bands and with the participation of people dressed as rabbits and other animals.

Easter Lunch

Food is another of the fundamental points in the celebration of Easter in the United States. The main dish on the table is honey-glazed ham, although turkey or lamb is also often substituted.

Americans sit around the table and enjoy these delicacies accompanied by other desserts also popular on the holiday: carrot cake or lemon cake.

Other interesting facts about Easter in the U.S.

  • TheEasteregg hunt tradition originated in Europe and was brought to the United States in the 18th century.
  • The first milk chocolate bar was created in 1875 by Daniel Peter in Switzerland. It was a great success in the United States and soon became one of the most popular Easter sweets.
  • The most famous Easter parade in the United States is the New York Easter Parade, which has been held on Fifth Avenue since 1857.

Easter is an important celebration in the USA, at MAE we believe that knowledge and culture are essential elements for a rich academic and formative growth. So, if you want to live your own American dream, get to know the culture and obtain an scholarship in the U.S., we work with students and families We work with students and families to find your ideal university, contact us for a free consultation!