‘What Easter means to us’

Across the world, Easter is one of the most revered and widely celebrated events in the Christian calendar. Commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead after His crucifixion, Easter symbolizes the triumph of life over death, hope over despair and renewal after suffering. The season marks the end of Lent, 40 days of […]

Across the world, Easter is one of the most revered and widely celebrated events in the Christian calendar. Commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead after His crucifixion, Easter symbolizes the triumph of life over death, hope over despair and renewal after suffering. The season marks the end of Lent, 40 days of fasting, reflection, and penance observed by millions of Catholic Christians globally.

In Nigeria, where Christianity is one of the dominant religions, Easter holds deep spiritual and cultural importance. For many Nigerians, it is more than a holiday; it is a sacred reminder of faith and a collective reaffirmation of resilience in the face of national challenges.

The celebration also extends to family gatherings, community feasts and charitable acts. Many Nigerians travel across states to be with loved ones, contributing to the vibrant movement typical of the season.

Weekend  Trust spoke to some Nigerians who shared what the season means to them and how they plan to celebrate it this year.

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For Vanessa Briggs, Executive Assistant at Edgard Consulting, Easter is a spiritual time to reflect on her faith and spend time at home with friends while enjoying a great meal.

“Easter, to me, is a living testament that death has been conquered and hope reborn. It’s the moment each year when I reflect on Christ’s sacrifice, celebrate the overwhelming power of His resurrection, and renew my faith and hope in God’s unending grace and mercy. This season fills my heart with light, reminding me that no matter how heavy our burdens, new life always springs forth.

This year, I’ll be marking Easter at home, welcoming a few close friends to join me for a festive meal. We’ll gather around on the floor to share food, honouring the joy of the season and the gift of Christ’s love in our lives.”

Zeal describes Easter as a blessed holiday and a meaningful season. However, he admits to some scepticism about its historical origins and the name itself, which he notes may be traced back to ancient fertility traditions and the Greek goddess Eostre.

“I think Easter is a very interesting holiday for Christians. It’s a time to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, one thing I don’t like about Easter is the timing and even the nature and naming of the holiday because it has some pagan roots, which is centred around the goddess of fertility. Aside from Easter bunnies and eggs, which are linked to those, talking about Jesus Christ and the death and resurrection is really the best part of it. I’m in school now, and considering that it’s a short break, I won’t go home to spend the holiday with my family.”

Onyekachukwu Ogbonna, a 27-year-old manager of Landry Properties, believes that Easter signifies freedom from debts, spiritual debts that Christ has, by his death, paid on the cross. He will spend the holiday travelling and taking a break from work. 

He said, “I think Easter signifies power over death, and power over a whole lot of things. It also signifies that I’m free from whatever debts I have to pay. Christ paid everything on the cross with his blood and death.

“So every time I feel like I’m guilty of something or anything, Christ comes out to say, ‘oh no, though he’s guilty, I’ve paid in full’. And most importantly, His resurrection means that he has power over the devil, over the works of the devil, over the world and every other thing. So, I’m grateful for that.

“Marking His resurrection means that He’s alive and has ascended into heaven. That’s the basis of Christianity – believing that Christ died for us, that he resurrected on the third day and that he has power and dominion over principalities and power.

“I’ll be travelling since it’s an opportunity to take a break from work and just go somewhere new and see how other people celebrate Easter in other parts of the country. I believe it’s going to be fun.”

Weekend Trust also spoke with Steven Ibrahim, a Naval officer, who plans to celebrate Easter quietly with family and visit a few friends.

“For this Easter celebration, I plan to spend the holiday with my family, observing the occasion in a low-key manner. We intend to visit family and friends, sharing in the joy of the season while keeping our gatherings intimate and meaningful. This decision to keep things simple is largely influenced by the current economic realities we face, which necessitate a more thoughtful approach to spending. I believe it is important to prioritize our resources wisely.”

He describes his plans as “low-key,” noting that the current economic realities call for moderation. With school resumption around the corner, he says his children’s education remains the top priority, so holiday spending must be carefully managed.

“By opting for a low-key celebration, we can focus on what truly matters, spending quality time together and nurturing our relationships. I also want to ensure that we set aside resources for our children’s return to school, as this will require careful financial planning. Education is a priority for our family, and I want to make sure that we are prepared for the upcoming school term without unnecessary stress. In summary, this Easter will be a time for bonding with my family.”

Yenny Philips, an Illustrator and songwriter, said she celebrates Easter by going to church and reaffirming her conviction in God. She also shares food and gifts with neighbours.

“I celebrate Easter by going to church and receiving God’s word with fellow Christians, and this reaffirms my conviction and belief. As a Nigerian, there is always after-church food or gifts I share with neighbours or whoever comes visiting, all of which is an extension of the celebration.”

Pastor Dele Faniyi of Life Solution Gospel Church, Kubwa, Abuja, pointed out that Easter is also known as Resurrection Sunday and remains one of the most important holidays in Christendom.

“It is very important and unique because it commemorates the supreme sacrifice paid by Christ to redeem humanity from the shackles of sin and to give them access to eternal life. So, personally, it is a moment of reflection for me and every member of the church I pastor,” he said.

To Ezra Ukanwa, a journalist in Abuja, Easter is a time to reflect and spend time with his family. He also complains about the high cost of things in the market that makes it difficult to celebrate as usual.

He said: “Honestly, Easter is a time for reflection and celebration for me, but this year, it’s going to be a bit low-key due to the economic situation. Everything is so expensive, and it’s hard to afford the usual festivities. For me, Easter is about renewal, hope, and spending time with loved ones.

“I’ll probably spend it with my family, sharing the little we have, and focusing on the spiritual significance rather than the material aspects. It’s not about the external celebrations, but about the love and togetherness we share.”

Oloruntoba Deborah Toyin, a teacher, said Easter is a time for celebrating new beginnings and spending time with loved ones.

“Easter is a time for celebrating new beginnings and spending time with loved ones. It’s a good time to reflect on the things I am grateful for and to look forward to the future.

“I’m planning on celebrating with my family. I am broke, so I will just stay at home though I will be attending church service. It’s also a good time to reflect on the ransom that was paid for my sake.”

Owu Shade, an entrepreneur, said she would share food with her neighbours and visit orphanages.

“Easter is a time to reflect on the love of Jesus because we know it was because of the love he has for us that he died on the cross. Christians have to share the love of Jesus Christ by preaching the gospel.”

On how she intends to celebrate the day, she said, “I will go to church and share food with neighbours and friends. I’ll also visit orphanages to distribute foodstuff, clothes and other things.”

“Easter is not just about  celebration but a time to reflect on how mighty the love of Christ to man is,  that he gave his life so they may be saved. It is a time of reflection; a time to go back to the knowledge and understanding of the meaning of Easter,” said 34-year-old Judith Solomon.

Andeh Yohanna believes that it is simply “the celebration of the salvation of Christ to man,” while Martha Agbo said it is a time to mark the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the salvation of mankind.

Forty Four-year-old Friday Bello, however, emphasized on how Easter is the most significant time of the year to him. “I know most Christians celebrate Christmas better by all the preparations but to me, I feel Easter is the essence of Christianity because of the salvation Christ brings to man.”