Easter’s History is Egg-cellent

Easter, which celebrates Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead, is Christianity’s most important holiday. It has been called a moveable feast because it does not fall on a set date every year.

Christian churches in the West all celebrate Easter on the first Sunday following the full moon after the vernal equinox on March 21. Therefore, Easter is celebrated anywhere between March 22 and April 25 every year.

The Orthodox Christians use the Julian calendar to see when Easter will occur and typically celebrate the holiday a week or two after the Western churches. They follow the Gregorian calendar.

The exact origin of Easter’s name is unknown. Some sources say the word Easter comes from Eostre, a Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility.

Easter is pretty much an entire season of the Christian church year, as opposed to a single-day observance.

Lent is the forty-day period leading up to Easter Sunday. It is a time of reflection and self-punishment and represents the forty days that Jesus spent alone in the wilderness before starting his ministry. During this time, Jesus survived various temptations by the devil.

The day before Lent, known as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday, is the last hurrah for food and fun before the fasting begins. The week prior to Easter is called Holy Week and includes Maundy Thursday, which honors Jesus’ last supper with his disciples. Good Friday honors the day of his crucifixion, and Holy Saturday is the transition between crucifixion and resurrection.

The fifty-day period following Easter Sunday is called Eastertide and is a celebration of Jesus’ rise into heaven.

Easter’s religious meaning also has a fun side to it for everyone to enjoy. All of the jelly beans, marshmallow chicks, Easter baskets, Easter egg hunts, and so much more have become a big part of this holy holiday for families and kids all over to enjoy and come together as friends and family.