Easter is a holiday that is celebrated throughout the Christian world and it is one of the most special holidays in Christendom because it is the moment when Jesus rises from the dead. But does it matter in China? Well, for Chinese Christians, yes. In any case, for the rest of the millions and millions of Chinese who do not profess Christianity, the time of Easter continues to have its own as it marks the beginning of spring, the passage of the equinox.
The three most common symbols of Easter that we have in the West are rabbits, eggs and chicks, something that also keeps its symbolism in Chinese culture because if one dives into the ancient mythology of this nation, one finds creation myths in which eggs appear. According to the most popular myth, the world was created from a chaotic egg and rabbits and chicks also appear in many artistic expressions symbolizing life and birth. The Chinese have been painting eggs for centuries. They are emptied and different scenes are painted on the shell and they are even decorated with jade and precious stones to symbolize the famous "dragon eggs". It is these eggs that are usually given to children as an expression of the desire for a good life and growth.
If you are in China for this Easter, you will surely see ornaments in stores. Beyond the merely commercial aspects of the festival, something that the Chinese always know how to take advantage of, the truth is that Christianity has been present for several centuries and that the entire country is multicultural and multi-religious. And when you come across a Chinese just say: fu huo jie kuari le, happy festival of life.