The meaning of Easter

Embrace weekend poster

By Altine Bootha-King 

Easter. Two days with no work and a weekend in between (long weekend). A time where chocolate eggs can be shared between many and egg hunts are created too. But what’s the real reason?

During the Easter weekend, visits were made to three places: The Central Elim Pentecostal Church on Lee Croft, Sheffield , Embrace nightclub on Burgess street and an easter egg hunt held by Sheffield University’s ‘The Lemon Fresh Society’ . All visits were made to look at how Easter is interpreted by three groups of people, and sum up what the easter period is all about.

Embrace nightclub held three events over the Easter weekend, starting with an Ann Summers lingerie party. Marie Sergeant, an attendee of the event said:

“It’s a different way to begin the Easter weekend, with raunchy underwear and dancing to end the night.”

The next day Embrace held a hot tub party. Jack Henderson, a student from Sheffield Hallam University said:

“This is brilliant! Everyone’s getting whoever they can soaked through and the atmosphere is completely different to a normal night out. Me and the lads are planning on staying here until we get cold!”

On Easter Sunday, Embrace had invited Sheffield born former playboy and Ann Summers model Luci Victoria to entertain the club in the main Decuba room. Around 1200 people attended the event, and a few were asked if the weekend as a whole reflected the meaning of Easter. Charlotte Auld, who attended all three events over the weekend said:

“Easter hasn’t been represented here at all. But everyone that’s out are here to have a good time, which is more important especially when you have uni assignments and exams coming up. It’s a chance to let your hair down and enjoy yourself. Easter to me is a long weekend!”

Lemon Fresh Society
(sheffield.ac.uk)

The Lemon Fresh society held their annual Easter egg hunt on Easter Saturday. John Joseph, the President of the society said: 

“It a great time of the year to get students to come together and do something we used to do as kids!  Its also a great opportunity for students to interact with each other by participating in an activity that requires a bit of teamwork but competition as well.”

The eggs were hidden all around Sheffield University’s student union, and people were going around in groups to find the eggs. Charlotte Ward, a participant at the egg race said:

“I haven’t done an easter egg hunt since I was five I think! It brings back so many memories of my childhood and I actually miss my parents. Whilst I’m here with my friends its something to do without the involvement of alcohol!” 

James Woods, a member of the Lemon fresh society said:

“Its a great laugh going to hunt for eggs with the lads. We’re all competitive but we’ll most likely share what we find between us.”

On the main subject of Easter, its the time of year where superstores such as Tesco and ASDA stack shelves full of eggs, all different shapes and sizes and different characters may feature on the eggs, from ‘Spongebob Squarepants’ to ‘The Milky Bar kid’. The traditional meaning for the eggs, Christians say is to represent new life. Some of the participants were asked this, and their responses were along the same lines:

“The eggs do represent new life. Its the time of the year where flowers are blossoming, baby lambs and sheep are being born and the chocolate eggs do represent the time of year where new life is all around. The time of year where Jesus came back to life? I suppose that depends what you believe in.”

Across the country on Sunday morning many Churches held a morning service talking about remembering what Easter stands for. Sheffield Central Elim pentecostal Church on Campo Lane, Lee Croft held this service. Pastor Paul Edwards of the Church spoke about what Easter stands for:

Easter eggs on sale (www.google.com)

“Easter is a time when we should be reflecting and remembering what Jesus Christ has done for us on the cross. He died for our sins so that we would not perish but have eternal life.”

Jean Weatherhill, an attendee of the church for over 20 years said:

“The way the young people are looking further away from the church and more on what they feel they want to look at is astonishing. I’m 76 years old and in my day when Easter came, you’d see no body out on the street unless it was to go to church, and then back again. Life seems to go on as normal now at Easter and every Sunday and so many people choose not to believe which is sad.”

Looking at the three different events held over the Easter period, and looking back at what the traditional meaning of Easter stands for, apart from the Church, the need to have a good time has taken over what the real meaning of Easter stands for. On the other hand many more faiths are represented in this country so why should Easter be given special treatment?

The real question is, should Easter be respected and represented better? After all, the UK is said to be a Christian country...