Spring is a time for new beginnings, and many cultures celebrate important holidays that mark harvests, reflection and spending time with loved ones during this season. There are four major spring holidays—Easter, St. Patrick’s Day, Passover and Ramadan that are all celebrated around the world, each with their unique traditions.
Easter is one of the most important Christian holidays. It celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who in the Christian faith is believed to have risen from the dead. Easter is typically celebrated on the Sunday after the first full moon of spring.
Easter is a joyful holiday filled with church services, family gatherings and egg hunts. The Easter Bunny is a symbol of new life that brings eggs to kids. “Easter is one of my favorite holidays because I like that it lets me hang out with my family, and eat chocolate at the same time,” said Millie Grabenhorst, a student at Ida B. Wells and an active member of the Christian Fellowship club.
St. Patrick’s Day is another Christian holiday and is celebrated on Mar. 17, to honor St. Patrick, one of the saints of Ireland. Originally it started as a religious day, but it has recently become a global celebration of Irish culture.
On St. Patrick’s Day, people will wear green and attend parades. The shamrock is used as a symbol of Ireland and represents the Holy Trinity (the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit), which St. Patrick used to explain Christianity.
Passover is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the Israelites’ escape from slavery in Egypt. It lasts for eight days and takes place in March or April. This year it’s starting on April 12 and lasting until April 20. One of the biggest parts of Passover is the seder, a special meal where Jewish families retell the story of the Jews’ mass exodus.
During the seder, people will eat foods like maror and matzah. Passover reminds people of the importance of freedom and justice and is a time for remembrance.
In the Islam faith, Ramadan is celebrated for around 30 days. It occurs during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is a time for fasting, prayers and spiritual searching. Muslims will fast from sunup to sundown to develop their empathy and self-discipline.
Every evening, people will break their fasts with a meal called iftar. The month ends with Eid Al-Fitr, a celebration that is marked by prayers and feasts.
Spring holidays are an important time for reflection and growth, and they allow us to celebrate faith and family.
