Easter is one of the principal holidays, or feasts , of Christianity . It marks the Resurrection of Jesus three days after his death by crucifixion . For many Christian churches, Easter is the joyful end to the Lenten season of fasting and penitence. The earliest recorded observance of Easter comes from the 2nd century, though it is likely that even the earliest Christians commemorated the Resurrection, which is an integral tenet of the faith.

In 325 the Council of Nicaea decreed that Easter should be observed on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox (March 21). Easter, therefore, can fall on any Sunday between March 22 and April 25. Eastern Orthodox churches use a slightly different calculation based on the Julian calendar . As a result, the Orthodox Easter celebration usually occurs later than that of Roman Catholics and Protestants .

Easter

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The significance of Easter in Christianity

Greek Orthodox Easter service, Pátmos, Greece

A young girl balancing an egg on a spoon during the White House Easter Egg Roll, Washington, D.C., 2008.

Christ risen from the tomb on the third day after death, fresco by Piero Della Francesca (c. 1420–92). In the Palazzo Comunale, Sansepolcro, Italy.

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Christ as Ruler, with the Apostles and Evangelists (represented by the beasts). The female figures are believed to be either Santa Pudenziana and Santa Praxedes or symbols of the Jewish and Gentile churches. Mosaic in the apse of Santa Pudenziana, Rome,A

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Easter summary

Easter

Q: Why is Easter celebrated?

Easter is celebrated by Christians as a joyous holiday because it represents the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Testament and the revelation of God’s salvific plan for all of humankind. In commemorating the Resurrection of Jesus, Easter also celebrates the defeat of death and the hope of salvation . Christian tradition holds that the sins of humanity were paid for by the death of Jesus and that his Resurrection represents the anticipation believers can have in their own resurrection .

Q: Why is Easter called Easter?

The English word Easter , which parallels the German word Ostern , is of uncertain origin. It likely derives from the Christian designation of Easter week as in albis , a Latin phrase that was understood as the plural of alba (“dawn”) and became eostarum in Old High German . The Latin and Greek Pascha (“Passover”) provides the root for Pâques , the French word for Easter.

holiday

Also known as: Pascha

Written by Hans J. Hillerbrand

Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Mar 11, 2024 • Article History

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Related Topics:: Jesus; church year; resurrection; Easter egg; Paschal candle

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What is Easter?

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Why is Easter called Easter?

Easter, principal festival of the Christian church, which celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his Crucifixion. The earliest recorded observance of an Easter celebration comes from the 2nd century, though the commemoration of Jesus’ Resurrection probably occurred earlier. The English word Easter, which parallels the German word Ostern, is of uncertain origin. One view, expounded by the Venerable Bede in the 8th century, was that it derived from Eostre, or Eostrae, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring and fertility. This view presumes—as does the view associating the origin of Christmas on December 25 with pagan celebrations ...(100 of 1456 words)

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