Easter Week in Nigeria: Faith, Family, and Festivities by Ogoke Nzubechukwu Victoria
Easter is celebrated once again in Nigeria and around the world, as Christians observe the resurrection of Jesus Christ following His crucifixion. This holiday marks the pinnacle of the Passion of Jesus, coming after Lent, 40 days of fasting, prayer, and penance. Since the resurrection is believed to have occurred on a Sunday, early Christians began gathering on Sundays for worship, a tradition known as observing “the Lord’s Day.” This day signifies the climax of the week that starts with Palm Sunday and ends with Good Friday. It also marks the conclusion of Lent, a period of fasting among Christians.
The date of Easter varies each year because it’s based on the lunar calendar. It always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the spring equinox. To simplify calculations, the Christian church sets March 21 as the spring equinox date, though the actual astronomical date can shift slightly. Using March 21 as a reference, Easter can land any Sunday between March 22 and April 25. In the early days of the church, Easter probably closely mirrored the Jewish Passover meal Jesus shared with His disciples before His arrest, the Last Supper (Matthew 26:17-30). According to Britannica, during the second century, Easter began to develop its own distinctive customs and practices, separate from those of Passover.
In Western Christianity, the week leading up to Easter is called Holy Week. It begins on Palm Sunday, which commemorates Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, and includes Spy Wednesday, mourning Jesus’ betrayal, and the Easter Triduum, comprising Maundy Thursday (marking the Last Supper), Good Friday (honouring Jesus’ crucifixion and death).
Celebrations vary widely across countries. In Nigeria, Easter holds deep cultural and religious significance and is considered one of the most important festivals of the year. The festivities kick off on Palm Sunday with church services that last several hours, followed by processions through the streets where worshippers sing, dance, and wave palm branches.
Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are observed with sombre church services, marked by quiet reflection, no laughter, and silence even from traditional drums, to honour Jesus’ suffering and death. Sometimes, scenes from the Passion are re-enacted to make the story more real and tangible.
A key moment is the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, where communities often light a large Easter fire symbolising Jesus’ resurrection and hope. On Easter Sunday, the celebrations reach their peak with joyful church services. Worshippers usually dress in white to symbolise Jesus’ rebirth, and the atmosphere is lively with drums and musical instruments expressing the joy of the resurrection.
During Easter week in Nigeria, many enjoy a traditional bean soup called "Frejon" made with coconut milk, a heritage from Brazilian cuisine brought over during the era of slavery.
Unlike in many Western countries, Nigerian Easter doesn’t revolve around the Easter Bunny or egg painting. Instead, the focus is on community and family gatherings. People take advantage of the public holidays to head to beaches or parks, enjoying quality time together.
