Guest Author - Caroline Baker
Easter is an International holiday that is celebrated in China as well. Even beyond the religious implications, Easter has many significances in the Chinese culture.
For many, Easter is a mark of the coming of spring. While ancient Chinese generally celebrate the coming of spring with Chinese New Years, the passing of the spring equinox is yet another reason to celebrate.
The three most common symbols that are associated with Easter in the West are: the Easter egg, rabbits, and baby chicks. All hold significance in the Chinese culture as well. In one of the creation stories that comes to us from ancient China, the world was created from an egg of chaos. Rabbits and chicks can be seen in many pieces of art, often there to symbolize life and birth.
From olden times, the art of painting on eggs has been part of the Chinese culture. Eggs would be drained and then fine line art depicting women, sceneries, and other images of beauty would grace the exterior. Jade and wood would be smoothed and carved into eggs to symbolize the "dragon egg". All these would be given as gifts in wishes of growth and many children.
But even beyond the commercialized aspects of Easter today, Chinese also celebrate the Christian rising of Christ. Perhaps even before the United States became known as the melting pot of cultures and religions, China held many, if not all, the known religions of the world. Much of these other religions entered China by way of the Silk Road and trade with other countries.
Thus, from very early on, Christianity has been part of the Chinese Culture, as many other religions of the world.
In order to wish someone a "Happy Easter" in Chinese, one of the ways you might say it is: fu huo jie kuai le. Literally translated it means "happy festival for the sign life".
