Easter

Easter is a major Christian festival and cultural holiday.

It commemorates the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. According to the New Testament, this occurred three days after his burial. His burial followed his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary. For many Christians, this event is the most important part of their faith. It represents a victory over death and a new life. The holiday is also known as Pascha, Pasch, or Resurrection Sunday.

The celebration is preceded by a period called Lent.

Lent is a 40-day period of fasting, prayer, and penance. The final week of Lent is called Holy Week. In Western Christianity, this week begins on Palm Sunday. It includes Spy Wednesday, a day to mourn the betrayal of Jesus. It also includes the Easter Triduum. This period contains Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus.

In Eastern Christianity, the holidays have different names. Many of these days start with the word "Holy." The main festival may be called Great and Holy Pascha. After Easter Sunday, a season called Eastertide begins. In Western traditions, this season lasts for seven weeks. It ends on Pentecost Sunday, which is the 50th day. In Eastern Christianity, the feast ends on the 39th day. This occurs on the eve of the Feast of the Ascension.

Determining the date for Easter is a complex task. Easter is a moveable feast. This means it does not fall on a fixed date each year. Instead, the date is calculated using a lunisolar calendar. This system combines the solar year with the phases of the Moon.

The First Council of Nicaea met in 325 to establish common rules. They decided Easter should fall on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the vernal equinox. Even with this rule, the date can differ from the astronomical full moon.

This calculation has caused historical controversies. One example is the Quartodeciman controversy. The term "Quartodeciman" refers to a practice of ending the Lenten fast on Nisan 14. This was the date of the Jewish Passover. Some leaders, like Polycarp, debated with others, like Anicetus. Anicetus wanted to associate Easter with Sunday. These disagreements lasted for a long time. Some groups were even deprived of their churches during the 4th century.

Easter has deep historical and linguistic roots. The name is linked to the Jewish Passover.

In many European languages, the names for both holidays are the same. The Gospels state that the crucifixion and resurrection happened during Passover week. The English term "Easter" may have a different origin. An 8th-century monk named Bede recorded a different history. He said the name might come from a goddess named Ēostre. Her month was celebrated in her honor.

Today, people celebrate Easter with many diverse traditions.

Some participate in sunrise services or late-night vigils. Many people decorate and eat Easter eggs. The egg is a symbol of the empty tomb. In Western Christianity, the Easter lily represents the resurrection.

Other customs include Easter parades and egg hunts. Some cultures enjoy communal dancing or wearing Easter bonnets. Many regions also have their own traditional Easter foods.