Easter - A Religious Observance But Joyous Holiday of Spring
Easter is a noteworthy religious observance in the Christian schedule. Easter derives from 2 ancient traditions, one Pagan, and one Judeo-Christian. Both Pagans and Christians have celebrated death and resurrection subject matters close to the Springtime Equinox for many years. Religious scholars typically believe that many of the elements of the Christian Easter tradition were based on the earlier Pagan observances.
Each Spring, the vernal equinox occurs between March 20 and March 22. Both Modern Pagans and Christians celebrate religious celebrations connected with the spring equinox. Neopagans, as well as Wiccans, will often have their celebrations right on the day of, or evening before, the equinox. Western Christians mark Easter on the Sunday on (or directly after) the full moon that follows the date of the Equinox. However, Eastern Orthodox churches have a totally different schedule. Their Easter observance can be many weeks after the time chosen by Western theologists.
Easter's religious meaning is to celebrate Jesus' resurrection, which Christians believe to have happened on the third day after he was crucified. The Easter Season historically lasted for the 40 days from Easter until Ascension Day. The Eastertide now officially lasts for a full 50 days from Easter through Pentecost. The first week of the Easter Season is known as the 'Octave of Easter'.
Easter is called a movable Christian holiday because it will vary between late March and late April each year, depending on the cycle of the moon. In modern times, many people celebrate Easter as a non-religious holiday. Children color and look for Easter eggs, decorate their Easter baskets, and even medical professionals wear pastel-colored Easter print scrubs to show their festivity.
The Christian Easter holiday is connected to Jewish Passover both for its symbolism as well as when it occurs on the calendar. The Catholic Encyclopedia notes that "in fact, the Jewish feast was taken over into the Christian Easter celebration."
The Easter Bunny is depicted as a rabbit that delivers Easter eggs, sometimes he is even shown wearing clothes. In the Easter Bunny fable, the bunny brings Easter baskets filled with beautifully colored eggs, candy, and sometimes even games to children's houses on the evening before Easter. The Easter Bunny might put the baskets in a special location or will hide them in the house (or the back yard) for the kids to search for when waking up in the morning.
The Easter Bunny is similar to Santa Claus of the Christmas holiday, as both of them bring presents to kids on the night before their respective holiday. The Easter Bunny was first cited in Georg Franck von Frankenau's book "About the Easter Egg" referring to an old Alsace tradition of an "Easter Hare" bringing Easter Eggs.
The specific beginning of the tradition of dye-ing Easter Eggs is unknown, but apparently the blooming of the many spring flowers corresponds with the use of eggs as a fertility symbol. Eggs, when boiled in water with colorful flowers can change colors, bringing the colors of spring right into their houses. Christians of the Eastern Orthodox Church will often dye their Easter eggs red, or the color of blood, in observance of the blood of Jesus and also symbolizing the renewal of life that comes in the spring. Some people will color their eggs green, in honor of the new leaves that are blooming after the long, cold time of winter.
Whether celebrated as a spiritual religious observance, or a more secular springtime holiday, Easter is a pleasant reminder of spring and helps to break free of the doldrums of winter and renews the human spirit.
Each Spring, the vernal equinox occurs between March 20 and March 22. Both Modern Pagans and Christians celebrate religious celebrations connected with the spring equinox. Neopagans, as well as Wiccans, will often have their celebrations right on the day of, or evening before, the equinox. Western Christians mark Easter on the Sunday on (or directly after) the full moon that follows the date of the Equinox. However, Eastern Orthodox churches have a totally different schedule. Their Easter observance can be many weeks after the time chosen by Western theologists.
Easter's religious meaning is to celebrate Jesus' resurrection, which Christians believe to have happened on the third day after he was crucified. The Easter Season historically lasted for the 40 days from Easter until Ascension Day. The Eastertide now officially lasts for a full 50 days from Easter through Pentecost. The first week of the Easter Season is known as the 'Octave of Easter'.
Easter is called a movable Christian holiday because it will vary between late March and late April each year, depending on the cycle of the moon. In modern times, many people celebrate Easter as a non-religious holiday. Children color and look for Easter eggs, decorate their Easter baskets, and even medical professionals wear pastel-colored Easter print scrubs to show their festivity.
The Christian Easter holiday is connected to Jewish Passover both for its symbolism as well as when it occurs on the calendar. The Catholic Encyclopedia notes that "in fact, the Jewish feast was taken over into the Christian Easter celebration."
The Easter Bunny is depicted as a rabbit that delivers Easter eggs, sometimes he is even shown wearing clothes. In the Easter Bunny fable, the bunny brings Easter baskets filled with beautifully colored eggs, candy, and sometimes even games to children's houses on the evening before Easter. The Easter Bunny might put the baskets in a special location or will hide them in the house (or the back yard) for the kids to search for when waking up in the morning.
The Easter Bunny is similar to Santa Claus of the Christmas holiday, as both of them bring presents to kids on the night before their respective holiday. The Easter Bunny was first cited in Georg Franck von Frankenau's book "About the Easter Egg" referring to an old Alsace tradition of an "Easter Hare" bringing Easter Eggs.
The specific beginning of the tradition of dye-ing Easter Eggs is unknown, but apparently the blooming of the many spring flowers corresponds with the use of eggs as a fertility symbol. Eggs, when boiled in water with colorful flowers can change colors, bringing the colors of spring right into their houses. Christians of the Eastern Orthodox Church will often dye their Easter eggs red, or the color of blood, in observance of the blood of Jesus and also symbolizing the renewal of life that comes in the spring. Some people will color their eggs green, in honor of the new leaves that are blooming after the long, cold time of winter.
Whether celebrated as a spiritual religious observance, or a more secular springtime holiday, Easter is a pleasant reminder of spring and helps to break free of the doldrums of winter and renews the human spirit.