Easter is a Christian holiday that commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The event is said to have occurred three days after Jesus was crucified by the Romans and died in around 30 A.D. in the New Testament of the Bible. The holiday culminates in the "Passion of Christ," a series of events and holidays that begins with Lent—40 days of fasting, prayer, and sacrifice—and ends with Holy Week, which includes Holy Thursday (the celebration of Jesus' Last Supper with his 12 Apostles, also known as "Maundy Thursday"), Good Friday (the commemoration of Jesus' crucifixion), and Easter Sunday.
When Is Easter 2022?
Easter 2022 takes place on Sunday, April 17. Easter, on the other hand, occurs on a different date each year.
Easter Sunday and related celebrations, such as Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday, are considered "moveable feasts," even though Easter always falls on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25 in Western Christianity, which follows the Gregorian calendar.
Easter is traditionally observed on the first Sunday following the first full moon following the spring equinox.
In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, which conforms to the Julian calendar, Orthodox Easter falls on a Sunday between April 4 and May 8 each year.
Easter Sunday, according to some Protestant Christian denominations, marks the beginning of Eastertide, or the Easter Season. Eastertide concludes on Pentecost Sunday, the 50th day after Easter. Easter Sunday marks the beginning of the Pascha (Greek for "Passover") season in Eastern Orthodox Christianity, which concludes 40 days later with the Feast of the Ascension.
Why Is Easter Called ‘Easter’?
St. Bede the Venerable, author of Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum ("Ecclesiastical History of the English People") in the sixth century, claims that the English word "Easter" derives from Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring and fertility. Other historians believe the term "Easter" is derived from bis, a Latin phrase that is plural for alba, or "dawn," which became rostrum in Old High German, a precursor to modern English.
Religious Tradition of Easter
The resurrection of Jesus, as described in the New Testament of the Bible, is essentially the foundation upon which the Christian religions are built. Hence, Easter is a very significant date on the Christian calendar. According to the New Testament, Jesus was arrested by Roman authorities because he claimed to be the "Son of God," though historians question this motive, with some suggesting that the Romans saw him as a threat to the empire.
Pontius Pilate, the Roman prefect of Judea from 26 to 36 A.D., sentenced him to death. The authors of the gospels claim that Jesus' crucifixion, commemorated by the Christian holiday Good Friday (the Friday before Easter), and subsequent resurrection three days later proved that he was the living son of God.
All four gospels of the New Testament state in varying ways that those who believe in Jesus' death and resurrection are given "the gift of eternal life," which means that those who believe will be welcomed into the "Kingdom of Heaven" upon their earthly death.
Passover and Easter
Notably, Easter is also associated with the Jewish holiday of Passover, as well as the Old Testament's account of the Jews' exodus from Egypt. These connections are evident in the Last Supper, which took place the night before Jesus' arrest, as well as the sufferings Jesus endured after his arrest.
The Last Supper was essentially a Passover meal. However, the New Testament describes it as being given new significance by Jesus: He identified the matzah (or bread) he shared with his 12 apostles as his "body," and the cup of wine they drank as his "blood."
These rituals would come to symbolize the sacrifice he was about to make in death, and they would serve as the foundation for the Christian ritual of Holy Communion, which is still an important part of Christian religious services today. Because Jesus' arrest and execution were said to have occurred during the Jewish holiday of Passover, the Easter holiday is frequently associated with the former on the Judeo-Christian calendar.
Easter Traditions
The period preceding Easter is especially important in Western Christianity, including Roman Catholicism and Protestant denominations. Lent is the name given to this period of fasting and penitence. It starts on Ash Wednesday and lasts 40 days (not including Sundays). Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter, commemorates Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem when followers laid palm leaves across the road to greet him.
Many churches begin their Easter celebrations in the late hours of the previous day (Holy Saturday) with a religious service known as the Easter Vigil. Easter rituals in Eastern Orthodox Christianity begin with the Great Lent, which begins on Clean Monday (40 days prior to Easter, not including Sundays). Palm Week is the final week of Great Lent, and it concludes with Lazarus Saturday, the day before Palm Sunday.
Easter Eggs
Many Easter traditions can be traced back to pagan or non-religious celebrations, as well as non-Christian celebrations. Many non-Christians observe these traditions while ignoring the religious aspects of the holiday. Easter eggs and associated games such as egg rolling and egg decorating are examples of non-religious Easter traditions.
In certain pre-Christian pagan traditions, eggs were thought to represent fertility and birth. In a nod to the religious significance of Easter, such as Jesus' resurrection or re-birth, egg decorating may have become part of the Easter celebration. Many people, primarily children, also take part in Easter egg "hunts," in which decorated eggs are hidden.
Easter Bunny
On Easter Sunday morning, a character known as the Easter Bunny delivers candy and chocolate eggs to children in some households. These candies are frequently found in Easter baskets. The Easter Bunny tradition's exact origins are unknown, though some historians believe it arrived in America with German immigrants in the 1700s. Rabbits are known as enthusiastic procreators in many cultures, so the arrival of baby bunnies in springtime meadows became associated with birth and renewal.
Notably, several Protestant Christian denominations, including Lutherans and Quakers, have formally abandoned many Easter traditions because they are considered too pagan. However, many religious Easter observers include them in their celebrations as well.
Easter foods are rich in symbolism. A lamb Easter dinner also has historical roots, as a lamb was frequently used as a sacrificial animal in Jewish traditions, and lamb is frequently served during Passover. The phrase "lamb of God" is sometimes used to refer to Jesus and the sacrificial nature of his death.
Nowadays, Easter is both a commercial and a religious holiday, with high sales of greeting cards, candies (such as Peeps, chocolate eggs, and chocolate Easter bunnies) and other gifts.
Writer: Narmadha Canoosamy
Editor: Khisha Callicharrun