What is your favorite holiday? Why is it your favorite?

A few days ago, we celebrated my favorite holiday, Easter.

Why is Easter my favorite?

For us, Christian-Orthodox Easter holds a special place among the Christian Holidays. Not that we don’t pay special attention to Christmas or other important holidays, but Easter has a special focal point: Jesus’s sacrifice, death, and resurrection remind us that death doesn’t mean the end, life continues differently, and something higher awaits us. Forty days before and until Easter, fast in humility, contemplating the last days of Jesus’s life and the passion he went through.

Then, Saturday evening in the church liturgy, we chant Christos Anesti, meaning Christ has risen. We chant it at every Sunday service until we celebrate Ascension Day.

About the higher thing, at this point, everyone can interpret it according to their imagination or expectation, since everyone has a different spiritual journey.

Another favorite holiday of mine is the Assumption of Mary. We Orthodox call it Easter of Summer, as the holiday falls on August 15th. From 1 August to 15 August, there is also a fasting time. Why this holiday? Mary is my favorite Saint; she always helps and protects me.