Why celebrate Pascha?

[Olympiada]

The skeptic in me is asking why celebrate Pascha? I am talking about the "midnight mass" (Western term) in particular. I don't want run of the mill dogmatic answers. I want to hear from someone who has struggled with the same question.

[GOCPriestMark]

What's the alternative, not celebrating Pascha?

What have you been focusing on and anticipating during this Lent?

[ANGELA]

Olympiada,

Who else can be resurrected after death? Only Christ. Therefore, we celebrate Christ overpowering even death. He was the key to opening Heaven for us.

We celebrate it at midnight, as it symbolises a new day. Death is not the end, it is the beggining of life.

+Angela

[joasia]

CHRIST IS RISEN!!

[GOCPriestMark]

I don't want run of the mill dogmatic answers.

As a child, did you never arise at the crack of dawn to see what Santa Claus had left for you?

[Lenexa]

Olympiada
The Gospel of St.Matthew 25:6 gives you an idea of why midnight. What are run of the mill dogmatic answers?
If what I listed offers no help let me tell you that some Orthodox out of Tradition do not celebrate the Paschal Liturgy at Midnight. I am referring to the Carpatho-Russians.
Part of me wants to say, "Come on Man?!"
I understand the Protestant objections or rather questions, trust me I do, but really when you go through Pascha it makes sense. Plus look at Holy Scripture! Is there a specific time? It seems that before dawn is most appropriate.
Christ is Risen!

[Helen]

I wonder if Olympiada is wanting to know of the practicality of why Pascha is celebrated at midnight in some jurisdictions or whether she wants to know the meaning of celebrating Pascha? I think it's the latter.

Just out of interest what time do you guys have the Easter service?

I know some Greeks do it at dawn.