Easter closely associated with the arrival of spring and the renewal of life on Earth
When people think of Easter, they usually think of a Sunday in March or April filled with color, pageantry and prayer.
However, the Easter season stretches from early February into late May and sometimes June.
The religious holiday is almost 2,000 years old. It celebrates a Sunday morning two millennium ago when Christians believe Jesus returned from the dead and brought the message of everlasting life to his followers.
Picking The Day
According to the World Book encyclopedia, most Christians observe Easter on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. That formula was decided when the Roman emperor Constantine I convened a council in 325 A.D. to decide on a permanent way to determine the date of Easter.
Under these calculations, Easter can occur on any Sunday between March 22 and April 25. In 2007, Easter falls on March 23rd, the second earliest date possible.
However, the Easter season starts well before that sacred Sunday and lasts long after it.
Celebrating Before Easter
For most Christians, it begins about 40 days before Easter on a Wednesday in February. That is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Christians seek penance during this time, showing sorrow for their sins and asking for forgiveness. Some give up a type of food or drink. The 6-week period is patterned after the 40 days Jesus is believed to have prayed and fasted in the wilderness to prepare for his teachings.
Holy Week is the final week of Lent. It leads up to Easter Sunday. Some churches hold services every day. The week recalls the events leading up to Jesus’ death and Resurrection.
Palm Sunday is the first day of Holy Week. It celebrates Jesus’ return to Jerusalem, where people spread palm branches and clothing at his feet. Many churches hand out palm leaves during services.
The following Thursday is called Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday. It recalls Jesus’ last meal and his arrest and imprisonment. Many Protestant churches hold Communion services on this day. Some Roman Catholic priests wash the feet of 12 church members to signify Jesus washing the feet of his disciples before the Last Supper.
The next day is Good Friday. It observes the crucifixion of Jesus. Most churches hold mourning services, some lasting from noon to 3 p.m. to symbolize the three hours Jesus suffered on the cross.
The next day is Holy Saturday, chiefly a time of solemn vigil. In some churches, the lights are extinguished that night and one tall candle is lit to represent Jesus’ rise from the dead.
On Easter Sunday, the Resurrection is celebrated. Many church-goers were white or yellow, traditional spring colors. Some services are held at dawn to observe the rising sun. Others include feasts to mark the end of Lent.
Celebrating After Easter
During the 40 days after Easter, some Christians remember the 40 days Jesus spent with his followers after his return. This period ends on Ascension Thursday, when Christians say Jesus returned to Heaven. On this day, some churches extinguish their Easter candle.
The Easter season concludes 10 days later with the feast of the Pentecost. That is the day the apostles reported the Holy Spirit had entered them. Some followers believe that event marked the beginning of the Christian church.
Easter Traditions
Many Easter traditions are based on the belief that Jesus’ Resurrection promised life after death. Other practices are closely associated with spring.
Easter lilies symbolize the pure new life of the season. Eggs and rabbits are symbols of fertility. Many feasts originated with spring festivals. According to theholidayspot.com, many ancient societies celebrated the vernal equinox on March 21st while others rejoiced in the annual return in spring of a goddess from the darker regions in the light of our world.
Scholars aren’t sure where the word Easter came from. Some historians believe it is from the early English word “Eastre,” which was name of either a pagan spring goddess or festival. Others say it’s from the German word “eostarun,” which means dawn.
