By: Hannah Ahn

   As winter loosens its grip on the earth and patches of snow give way to fresh grass, the air fills with the quiet energy of something beginning again. For many Christians, this seasonal awakening mirrors the deeper transformation they experience as they await the arrival of Easter. 

   Easter, a time rooted in hope, renewal, and new life, doesn’t arrive without preparation. The forty days of Lent, which are marked by fasting, prayer, and reflection, lead Christians through a period of quiet discipline meant to mirror Jesus’ own forty days spent out in the desert. Easter weekend is marked by Good Friday, which commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and Easter Sunday, which celebrates his resurrection. The holiday carries with it the promise of redemption and everlasting life. Together, these days trace a powerful arc: from sorrow to joy, from sacrifice to celebration, from darkness to light.

   To the outside world, Easter often looks like plastic eggs hidden in the grass, chocolate bunnies lining store shelves, and homes dressed in soft pastels. But for many in MRHS’s Christian community, the holiday carries far greater weight. It is less a festive tradition than a spiritual reset: a moment to slow down, reconnect with faith, and reflect on what truly matters.

   “Easter is a lot about celebration and joy,” said senior Ruhhe Biruk. “I think it’s a holiday that doesn’t mean much if you disconnect it from what it’s about, which is our religion. Eggs and chocolate are distractions.”

   That tension between restraint and rejoicing is part of what gives the season its meaning. The quiet discipline of Lent prepares the heart, making the brightness of Easter morning feel earned.

   For senior Jaidyn Augustine, that feeling is something she feels every year. “I always feel very moved around this time,” she said. “It’s beautiful to go to Easter Sunday and feel this kind of brightness.” Even for students who are not regularly religious, the holiday can feel like a calm, peaceful moment to gather one’s thoughts in the middle of the hectic third quarter. This Easter, students report that they will celebrate by spending the time with family or friends, at churches, dinners, or small gatherings. 

   Freshman Joshua Ahn, when asked to distill the holiday’s value down into his words, said above all, he loves the season for the closeness it allows him to feel with God. “I try to hold this truth in my daily life,” he said. “Sometimes I forget to pray or have quiet time alone with God, but I feel like that’s also a big part of it. Easter Sunday feels like God saying, ‘Where’d you go?’ And it feels like the one time of year where instead of the other way around, I can go looking for Him.”