Grow with God: Passover & Easter (cont'd)

Please read my previous blog post for this to make sense!

Here's what I learned about celebrating Passover, with apologies to my Jewish friends if I get anything wrong:

The first two and last two days are the most important of this eight-day festival. The last two signify the splitting of the Red Sea when the Israelites escaped Pharoah's armies.
Holiday candles are lit each night and sumptuous holiday meals are enjoyed.
Very dedicated Jews don't go to work, drive, write, or switch on electric devices the first and last two days (One rabbi calls it a "digital Sabbath").
The other days are intermediate and work is permitted.
Matzah is a flat unleavened bread that is an important part of the meals, for obvious reasons (see previous bog post).
Seder, a special meal, is enjoyed each of the first two nights of Passover. It is a 15-step, family-oriented, ritual-packed feast. It is designed to commemorate the salvation of the Israelites and to teach children an important concept of the faith.
In addition to matzah, bitter herbs are eaten to represent the bitterness of slavery.
Four cups of wine or grape juice are served as a royal drink representing freedom. For more on the significance of the four cups of wine, refer to Ray Vander Laan's article mentioned in the previous blog post: http://oneinjesus.info/2010/02/faith-lessons-by-ray-vander-laan-the-fifth-cup/.
The Haggadah is recited. It is a liturgy that recounts the story of the exodus from Egypt.

Here's how Christians celebrate the Easter season--some call it Passion Week:

Maundy Thursday (or Holy Thursday) is a day to remember the Last Supper--the Passover celebration Jesus held with his disciples. He gave it new meaning by teaching that he would become the Passover Lamb, the sacrifice for our salvation. Communion is a part of the remembrance. This was also when Jesus washed the disciples' feet, showing them what true love and servitude looked like.

The most meaningful Maundy Thursday service I ever attended was a re-enactment of the Last Supper with actors forming still shots of the famous da Vinci painting while the Bible passage was read.
Some churches institute foot-washing ceremonies as well as Communion on Maundy Thursday. ("Maundy"comes from a Latin term meaning "command"--reflecting Jesus' command to practice communion and serve others.)

Good Friday remembers the tragic day of Jesus' crucifixion. In former times, many businesses closed at noon so workers could attend noon church services. Today many churches hold somber Good Friday services. (For information on Tenebrae services, see http://www.gotquestions.org/Tenebrae-service.html).
Resurrection Sunday (Easter) finds many worshipers taking part in early sunrise services to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus on the third day. This is a very uplifting, hopeful way to begin the day that is the most important one of the Christian faith.
Later church services are held, often with worshipers dressed in new garments, representing the new life in Christ. Easter eggs hunts for the children are meant to teach new birth through Jesus' sacrifice. (Some churches prefer the term Resurrection Sunday instead of Easter since the term Easter stems from a pagan spring celebration. Sorry, but bunnies come from that pagan event.)