Easter is the main Christian festival, commemorating the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus-Christ, son of God. Ange Rosette and his large family from Trou-d?Eau-Douce will celebrate Easter weekend in a simple manner. Surrounded by her children and grandchildren, Ange?s wife, Denise, explains how she will cook a roast chicken for Sunday lunch and distribute Easter eggs to the kids. ?It is a moment of great joy since we are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus.? She is more concerned with the symbolism of the celebration than anything else.

Denise has gone through Lent, the fasting period of 40 days leading to Easter with fervent piety. ?We have a prayer group in Trou-d?Eau-Douce and we have been going to churches across the island for the Stations of the Cross.? Jessica, her close friend, adds: ?We do all these rites in an atmosphere of sharing and love, as well as reconciliation.?

According to Father Sullivan, Lent is a time where choices are made in order to get back to essentials ? echoing the 40 days Christ spent in the desert. ?Some people fast and symbolically this means that we are not slaves to consumerism,? he says, before adding that Holy week, which leads to Easter Sunday is ?spent in remembrance of God?s love and devotion for us.?

On Saturday Denise and her family will attend mass at the nearby church, Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Secours. ?At the beginning of the celebration, the church is in darkness, to remind Christians of the darkness from which Christ rescues them. Outside or inside a fire is kindled, from which a single great candle is lit, representing the Lord. The passion of Jesus, the love that led him to be crucified will be in everybody?s mind that night,? says Denise. Light from this Easter candle is transmitted to the whole congregation until the whole church becomes a sea of lights.

Father Sullivan explains how his service will ?include readings from the Bible, using light, water and fire as symbols that transmit a message of hope.? The celebration culminates in the resurrection of Jesus, symbolising ?the triumph of love over hate, of life over death and of forgiveness over sin? for Christians.

It gives hope because it implies that life does not end with mortal death. The Easter mass on Sunday celebrates this with the chiming of church bells, the singing of Glorias and Alleluias. Families then meet for the traditional Easter lunch and children have fun looking for Easter eggs hidden in the garden.