Easter, Pascha, or Resurrection Sunday is a Christian festival that is observed across the world in commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus. According to biblical accounts, Jesus was resurrected on the third day after His crucifixion and death. Although the Holy Scripture does not necessarily quote Sunday as the date of his resurrection, the Catholic Church adopted Easter Sunday to mark the end of Lent, after Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
The core basis of the Christian faith lies in the belief that Jesus was crucified, died, and was buried and later resurrected on the third day after His crucifixion. Therefore, as the church was setting the date for Easter, it was clear that the holiday should occur after Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Although the Bible does not give an account as to whether the disciples of Jesus commemorated the death and resurrection of the Lord, there is evidence that the early Church developed the practice of celebrating this holiday from the 2nd century. During this time, Christians would celebrate the holiday at different times. For instance, Christians in Asia would celebrate the holiday on the 14th day of the moon based on the Hebrew calendar, which took place on a full moon after the equinox. Conversely, Christians in the West would celebrate the holiday at the same time Jews celebrated the Passover.
Easter does not have a set date. It is recognized as a ‘moveable feast.’ The church determines the date by calculating the cycle of the sun based on a lunisolar calendar. In 325 AD, the First Council of Nicaea decided that the holiday should be celebrated at the same time across the world and should be independent of the Jewish calendar.
In 314 AD, church leaders held a meeting to determine if the holiday should be celebrated on the 14th day of the Lunar Cycle during the month of March. The Council of Nicaea also stated that the holiday should be celebrated following the full moon after the equinox. It was in the 17th century that King Oswy of England ended the varying dates for celebrating the holiday. The King used to celebrate the holiday based on the Asian calendar. King Oswy’s wife, on the other hand, would celebrate the holiday based on the Western calendar. To eliminate this difference, the King met up with the Church clergy. At the time, the church differed in terms of those who followed St. John and those who followed St. Peter. The King argued that since St. Peter holds the keys to the kingdom, the holiday should be celebrated based on the traditions of St. Peter.
The English word ‘Easter’ is similar to the German word Ostern. The 8th century Venerable Bede stated that the word was borrowed from the pagan holiday Eostre or Eostrae for the goddess of fertility. The Saxon would offer in honor of Eastra, the goddess of spring, about the time of Passover. The belief that Easter stemmed from pagan roots is widely accepted by historians and biblical scholars. There were pagan holidays that had a similar theme to that of Easter. For instance, the resurrection of the Egyptian god Horus. The death of the Sumerian goddess Inanna and her ascension and resurrection to the underworld, and the celebration of spring equinox in honor of Mithras. As such, there are concerns that pagan elements associated with these holidays were transferred to Easter. The Easter Bunny, a common feature of Easter, is also associated with pagan roots. The bunny was a symbol of the pagan goddess Eostre and was a symbol of fertility.
In Latin, the term Easter stems from the Latin word Pascua meaning “passage.” The holiday was influenced by the Jewish Passover holiday. As Egyptians pursued the Hebrews leaving Egypt, God made a passage (pesach in Hebrew) in the Red Sea for the Hebrews to cross. Moses instituted a Passover in honor of their deliverance from Egyptians and during this time the Jews were expected to sacrifice a male lamb and eat it. Christians view death and resurrection as God’s way of creating a passage for people around the world. This passage of death and life is commemorated during Easter. By rising from the grave, Jesus gave humanity hope of eternal life and victory over death. Jews celebrate Passover on the fourteenth day of the month of Nisan (sometime in March). The council of Nicaea in 325 CE, decided to designate the celebration of this holiday at the same time as the Jewish Passover. They determined that Easter should occur on the first Sunday following the full moon of the spring equinox. This decision made the festival moveable and Easter therefore falls at a different time during the month of March every year.
In the 20th century, the church attempted to standardize the date for the holiday. The Sunday following the second Saturday was proposed. However, this proposal was not supported. In the 21st century, a renewed interest on a fixed date arose among Eastern Orthodox, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic, Anglican as well as the Roman Catholic Churches. Still, formal agreements remain elusive. In the liturgical calendar, Easter comes after Lent (40 days before Easter). Easter is immediately followed by the Holy Week that includes Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday. The holiday comes after the great Vigil which is observed sometime between sunset on Easter Saturday and sunrise on Easter Sunday.
In some churches, the vigil occurs on Saturday evening, Saturday Afternoon, and finally Sunday morning. In 1955, the Roman Catholic Church determined that the vigil should start at 10:00 pm on Holy Saturday and by the 4th century, the Easter vigil was already a common tradition. In the Roman Catholic church, the vigil consisted of four key parts which include the paschal candle to symbolize resurrection, prophecies, the administration of the sacraments of baptism, confirmation of adult converts and the mass at Easter.
Baptism during Easter dates back to the 4th century when the church baptized once a year. Lutheran and Anglican churches equally have their vigils. Contrarily, Protestant churches do not. In Protestant churches, a mass is held at sunrise on Easter Sunday. The bible states that Mary Magdalene went to the tomb at sunrise. During the sunrise, congregants celebrate the sun that puts out the darkness.
Generally, the holiday occurs at springtime, during the equinox and Lunar Festival. However, it is not by chance that the festival occurs during the return of spring - a season of renewal which has some form of cosmic necessity. The renewal of nature mirrors the resurrection of Christ. It is not unusual to see seasonal rites and myths continued from one civilization to the next. As a result, through Easter, we hear echoes of pagan myths that existed before the adoption of Christianity in Western societies. Eastern Orthodox churches calculate the date of the holiday differently since they use the Julian calendar. As a result, the holiday occurs later than it does in the Gregorian calendar. Orthodox Christians around the world hold a church liturgy during Easter. However, the Orthodox church forbids the celebration of Easter before or at the time of Passover. Usually, the holiday falls between March 22nd and April 25th across the world.
This holiday provides a great opportunity for friends and family to come together. Christians in Western societies use traditional Easter flowers such as Easter lilies, willows, red tulips, and daffodils to decorate the church and their homes. The flowers, symbolizing the blood of Jesus, are believed to have grown in the garden of Gethsemane, the site where Jesus was arrested. Below is a list of traditions practiced across the world during the Easter celebration:
Greece
In Greece, Easter is a widely celebrated holiday. People roast lamb and ferment beverages. The roasted lamb is similar to Hebrew traditions which took place during Passover. The lamb represents Jesus. Also, people crack red-dyed eggs during the holiday and the last person remaining with an uncracked egg will have good luck. Additionally, family and friends gather and interact while feasting.
Lebanon
In Lebanon, Orthodox Christians attend a church liturgy during Easter. The liturgy can be on Easter Sunday or midnight between Holy Saturday and Easter Saturday. People feast on special meals such as turkey served with rice, maamoul cookies, and chickpea delicacies.
Bulgaria
In Bulgaria, people celebrate this holiday by attending a midnight liturgy. Next, worshippers carry their candles outside as a sign of resurrection while others crack painted eggs.
Island of Crete
In the Island of Crete, people make a bonfire effigy for Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus, and collect dry wood and branches to burn the effigy. Easter signifies rebirth.
France
In France, the tradition of placing treats under Easter bells is very common. The Catholic Church states that no church can ring its bells between Holy Thursday and Easter Vigil. This is a solemn practice in honor of Jesus who had not risen before Sunday. However, a tradition evolved that the bells did not ring because the bells grew wings and flew to Rome for the Pope to bless them. The bells would return on Easter carrying treats for children.
India
Christians in India have a unique way of celebrating the holiday. For instance, in the state of Goa, Christians would celebrate with street carnivals, dances, and songs. The people would also exchange gifts such as colorful lanterns, chocolate, and flowers.
Italy
In Florence, Italy, people have a 350-year-old tradition known as Scoppio del Carro, meaning ‘explosion of the cart,' where people load an old cart with fireworks. The loaded cart is later pulled in front of the Duomo where the fireworks go off. This practice is a sign of peace and hope for a good year ahead. The South of Florence also holds a great celebration the day after Easter. Locals come together for an annual Ruzzolone. This competition involves rolling giant wheels of Ruzzola cheese around areas of the village.
United States
A majority of Americans celebrate Easter in a more secular way, with the decoration of Easter eggs, a tradition that dates back to the 13th century. However, the church prohibited people from eating eggs during this holiday. In a bid to mark the ‘Holy Week,’ people started decorating the eggs instead. The egg developed a deeper meaning in the society as a symbol of resurrection. Just as Jesus rose from the tomb, the egg became a symbol of new life emerging from a shell.
In Orthodox traditions, the eggs are decorated in red which symbolizes the blood that Jesus shed on the cross. Children in the United States engage in Easter hunts. The genesis of this tradition is associated with the wife of President Rutherford B. Hayes. Lucy Hayes had a history of holding Easter egg roll events in the White House. Children would get to roll eggs at the White House in 1876, the Monday after Easter. However, in 1878, the practice was abolished for fears that the event was damaging to the grounds.
Moreover, Easter is usually associated with the Easter bunny, a brainchild of the Protestant Church. This tradition has its roots back in 17th century Europe. In the U.S., the Easter bunny leaves candies and toys for children on Easter morning. The church adopted this practice as a strategy to reject Catholic customs that are associated with Easter. There are countries with other animals, for instance, the cuckoo in Switzerland, and the fox in Westphalia. The key centers of attraction during this holiday are Easter parades and visits from the Easter bunny. Churches celebrate the holiday by decorating the church with flowers not only for aesthetics but also as a symbol of rebirth.
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