Cultural aspects in Christian and Islamic religions - unesdoc - Unesco

‘Christ is Risen from the Dead, Trampling Down
Death by Death, and Upon Those in the Tombs
Bestowing Life’. When the faithful come out of
church they exchange the Paschal greeting: ‘Christ
is risen!’ to which the answer is: ‘Truly, He is risen’
as a public declaration of creed.
Distribution of Eggs
The traditional distribution of hardboiled and
colored eggs to those who are coming out of
church is common. Eggs are a symbol of fertility
and especially of Christ’s resurrection from the
grave, just like the young bird makes its way out of
the egg alive. Eggs were forbidden during fast in
the first centuries, which is why Christian tradition
encouraged the eating of eggs upon breaking
them on Easter.
Cakes and Ma’mul
Christians prepare round cakes in the shape
of crowns and fill them with dates. They also
prepare ma’mul in the shape of cones and fill them
with pistachio, almonds, and sugar. They aim at
commemorating the pain and suffering of Christ
which resulted in the joy of Resurrection. The
round shape of the cakes symbolizes the thorny
crown that was placed on Christ’s head, and the
conic shape of Ma’muul symbolizes the sponge
that was dipped in vinegar given by the soldiers to
Christ when He asked for water. The date filling of
the cake and pistachio or almond and sugar filling
of Ma’mul all represent the aftermath of Christ’s
suffering, the joy of Resurrection and redemption.
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