Easter is a time filled with ancient traditions and deep meanings that date back to immemorial times. At the heart of these traditions is wine, a beverage that has played a fundamental role in celebrations throughout the centuries.
In antiquity, wine was already considered a gift from the gods, and its presence in feasts and religious rituals was common in many cultures, particularly in Judeo-Christian culture.
To prove this, we have several passages from the Old Testament of the Bible, for Catholics, Torah for Jews, in which wine was often associated with:
Blessing and abundance: In Genesis 27:28, Isaac blesses Jacob saying, “May God give you dew from heaven and abundant harvests on earth, with plenty of wheat and wine.”
Religious ceremony: In Exodus 29:40, God instructs Moses to prepare a daily offering in the morning and evening, which included, “With the first lamb offer two kilograms of the finest flour mixed with a liter of olive oil, and pour out as an offering a liter of wine.”
Joy and celebration: In Ecclesiastes 9:7, it is written, “Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do.”
Easter for Catholics, Passover for Jews, is one of the most important festivals in the religious calendar, albeit for different reasons, but in both, wine acquires a very strong symbolic meaning.
Pessach derives from the Hebrew word “pesach,” which means “to pass over” or “to skip over.” The Jewish Passover commemorates the liberation of the Jews from slavery in ancient Egypt, as described in the book of Exodus. In the narrative of the tenth plague sent by God against Egypt, the firstborn Egyptians were killed, but the Jews were spared because they had marked their doors with the blood of a sacrificial lamb. God “passed over” the marked houses and did not harm the children of Israel.
To commemorate this, Jewish families gather for the Seder – a ceremonial meal that includes the recitation of prayers, the reading of the Haggadah (a text that narrates the story of the Exodus), and the consumption of symbolic foods, such as matzah (unleavened bread) and bitter herbs, along with wine. During a Seder, each adult drinks four cups of wine, representing the redemption of the Jews from slavery under the Egyptians. A fifth cup is served but not consumed, being reserved for the prophet Elijah, representing future redemption.
For Christians, Easter is the most important celebration in the religious calendar, commemorating the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Also in the context of the Christian Easter, wine plays a significant role since at the Last Supper, according to the Gospels, Jesus shared bread and wine with his followers, instructing them to do so in his memory. “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.'” – Luke 22:19-20.
But beyond celebrating liberation from slavery, or the resurrection of Christ, Easter also marks the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere, symbolizing a time of renewal and hope.
This Easter, enjoy a glass of wine with Family, with Friends, and appreciate the richness of the traditions.
Happy Easter!
