When most people think of Easter, they think of bunnies and colorful eggs, but Easter is much more than that. Easter is a Christian festival that commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This year, it falls on Sunday, April 20th.
What is the resurrection of Jesus Christ? It is the belief that God raised Jesus from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. This demonstrates that Jesus is the Son of God and has defeated death. To Christians, this event is important because it gives them hope that their sins can be forgiven.
Easter, also called Pascha or Resurrection Sunday, is the oldest Christian holiday, dating back to the 2nd century. Easter has roots in Pagan celebrations and is related to the Jewish Passover. Christians begin celebrating Easter 40 days before Easter Sunday. This is called Lent. Lent is when Christians prepare for the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus by fasting, praying, and almsgiving.
The name “Easter” is an English word, related to the German word “Ostern.” There are many theories on where Easter got its name from. For example, historians believe that Easter was named after the goddess Eostre. Other theories are that Easter got its name from the Latin word “eostarum.” There is also a French word for Easter called “Paques”, coming from the Latin and Greek word, “Pascha”, which means passover.
Why does Easter fall so late this year? Easter is always on a Sunday, but never on the same date from year to year. However, Easter is usually around April 4 and May 8. Easter always happens on the first Sunday after the Paschal full moon. The Paschal full moon is the full moon that occurs around the Spring equinox.
There are so many different Easter traditions. For instance, the Easter bunny is the mascot for the holiday. It may seem foolish, but there is an Easter rabbit because of Eostre, the goddess of fertility. Rabbits are a sign of fertility and are also common in the springtime, and are seen as good luck. The rabbit is known to bring gifts to younger children, usually put into eggs. Other than Easter being a symbol of the resurrection of Jesus, the holiday is also a celebration of the spring season, with grass, flowers, ducks, and other spring symbols incorporated into the holiday.
Many people create special activities with family and friends to celebrate Easter. Some fun ways to celebrate are to dye and decorate Easter eggs, hunt Easter eggs, host an Easter dinner, or attend a Church service.
Easter is an amazing holiday that symbolizes Jesus’s resurrection, but it is also a good way to connect with loved ones by doing fun activities. Easter means different things to different people, and they celebrate it in all kinds of ways.
Sources:
What Is Easter, and Why Do We Celebrate It?
When Is Easter? Why It Falls So Late in 2025. | The Old Farmer’s Almanac
The History Of Easter – News – Vermilion Ohio