The Story of Easter Each One of Us Must Know before Easter

Easter is considered one of the most important Christian festivals. Do you want to learn more about the story of Easter? You are at the right place. In this article, you will learn why we celebrate Easter, where Easter came from, and so much more. 

What Is Easter?

What does Easter represent? Easter or Resurrection Day is a Christian festival that is celebrated commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. In Greek, the festival is also known as Pascha. 

Why Do We Celebrate Easter?

Origin of Easter: According to the New Testament, Jesus was arrested by the Roman authorities as he claimed himself to be the Son of God. After he was crucified and died in around 30 A.D, he appeared on the third day after the burial, which was later marked as Easter. 

According to Christianity, Jesus has paid off their sins of humanity by his death. 

Why Is It Called Easter?

The original meaning of Easter: Easter is named after the Anglo-Saxon goddess of Spring and Fertility named Eostre. This goddess is referred to from Venerable Bede’s writing, a British monk who was loved in the early eighth century. 

When Is Easter?

It is generally celebrated on the first Sunday following the first full moon, which is on or after March 21st, usually between March 22 and April 25. In 2021, Easter falls on April 4th.

Easter-related festivals such as Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday are called moveable feasts. 

These days are celebrated based on the Gregorian or Julian Calendar.

Eastern Christianity follows the Julian Calendar. Hence Easter falls somewhere between April 4 and May 8 every year. 

Easter begins on Ash Wednesday and arrives after a 40 day lent period. It is a season of reflection and preparation before the Easter celebration. 

How Is Easter Celebrated?

People express the significance of Easter in Christianity by celebrating several Pre-Easter festivals.

The Sunday prior to Easter is called Palm Sunday, and it marks the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem as the followers laid palm leaves in order to welcome him. People start their celebration in the late hours of Saturday called the Easter vigil(a religious service). 

Easter begins with the “Passion of Christ,” a 40 day(not including Sundays) period of fasting and prayers and ends with the “Holy Week” that features,

• Easter Triduum
• Holy Thursday/Maundy Thursday, the celebration of Jesus’s last supper with his 12 Apostles
• Good Friday, commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus
• Easter Sunday

On Easter, people celebrate with special church services, flowers, music, and decorating Easter eggs.

• Easter Eggs–They has roots in non-Christian celebrations. These are chocolate-filled eggs painted beautifully to exchange as gifts for Easter. People also play Easter egg games, including egg rolling and egg decorating. The egg was considered an ancient symbol of a new life according to pagan festivals. But from a Christian perspective, Easter eggs represent the emergence of Jesus from the tomb and resurrection.

Other celebrations include the tradition of Easter eggs and Easter bunnies. 

• Easter Bunnies- A character known as Easter bunnies deliver chocolates and sweets to kids on Sunday morning. Though the exact origin was unknown, many historians say it started in the 1700s with German immigrants.
• Easter Lilly- It is considered a symbol of resurrection and used in decorating the chancel area of churches on Easter day.