ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Easter Vigil

Easter Vigil is a special time when Christians come together to celebrate and remember the most important event in their faith. It happens on the night before Easter Sunday, which is a really special time for Christians because they believe that it's when Jesus rose from the dead after being crucified on the cross.

During the Easter Vigil, people gather together in a church, which might be decorated with lots of candles and flowers. There might be special prayers and songs, and sometimes even a bonfire outside the church to symbolize the light of Jesus coming into the world.

After everyone is settled in, a special person called a priest will bless the water in the baptismal font to represent the cleansing of sin that happens when someone is baptized. The priest might also bless some special oils to be used in church ceremonies throughout the year.

Later on, there might be a reading from the Bible about how God created the world or how he rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. These stories help remind people that God has been at work in the world for a very long time.

But the most important part of the Easter Vigil happens when the priest reads a really special part of the Bible called the Gospel. This part of the Bible tells the story of how Jesus rose from the dead, and it's the most important part of the Christian faith. After the Gospel is read, the church is filled with light when everyone lights candles and sings songs about the resurrection of Jesus.

Finally, the Easter Vigil ends with a big celebration, including lots of singing and dancing, because Christians believe that Jesus' triumph over death is something worth celebrating!