How Easter Came to Be.

Everyone knows about Easter’s theme, but do you know why and how this national holiday came to exist? Today, Easter is a fun day about having an egg hunt, decorating eggs, making treats, and eating a bunch of chocolate bunnies. It’s also most known for its magical creature, the Easter Bunny, a folklore figure and the symbol of Easter. It is depicted as a white rabbit, who often wears clothes, and hides Easter eggs for the children to find. However, it is important to know how Easter first originated in history and what today’s celebration of Easter really means.

So How Did It All Start?

Easter Sunday is actually a major Christian holiday, it celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after his death. Easter ends a period known as the Passion of Christ and it starts with the 40 days of Lent. In the Christian church, it’s a period of preparation for Easter, and is traditionally doing acts of fasting and abstinence. Easter is followed by Holy Week, the week during which they devote themselves to the Passion of Jesus Christ. The week included: Holy Thursday, the day Jesus had his Last Supper, Good Friday, the day Jesus was crucified, and Easter Sunday, the day Jesus was resurrected. This holiday is vital for Christianity and it’s a joyous holiday for Christians.

The Naming and Date of Easter Sunday

Do you ever want to know why the date of Easter keeps changing every year? Well, just like it says in the name, it’s always on a Sunday, but only the first Sunday after the first full moon following the Spring equinox. So since the dates of the full moons are different every year, so is Easter. The date can fall around late March or into April. This year (2023) Easter is on April 9.

The naming of Easter, after some debates, came from the name Eostre or Eostrae, which was a goddess that religious people honored in spring festivals. Since these festivals mostly took place in the spring equinox, people believed that Christians took the name and celebrations for what’s it as now.

Why is Easter Important to Celebrate?

Easter Sunday is a popular holiday and celebration in the Christian religion, it is the foundation of Christian faith. During the period of Jesus Christ’ resurrection after his crucifixion, he appeared to many of his followers before he ascended to heaven to be with God, his father. In the Bible, it was written that believers who celebrate Easter and have faith in Jesus’ resurrection will have eternal life.

Easter Customs

Even though this is a Christian holiday, it’s popular all over the world and some of these well-known customs have no connection with the religion. But it goes back to pagan practices, for an example:

Easter Eggs – The chocolate Easter eggs are a common gift and a symbol of Easter. Easter egg hunts are a popular activity among children to take part in during the holiday. The event is based around how many eggs the children can find. Another popular activity for children is egg decorating with colors and patterns. In history, decorated eggs symbolize a new life and many people believe it is associated with Easter due to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Easter Bunny – The Easter Bunny is a folklore animal that is well known in Easter. Children were told to believe that Easter eggs were brought by the Easter Bunny, just like how Santa brings presents to children on Christmas. It lays eggs and then decorates them to hide them for the children, it also leaves baskets of toys and candies on Easter morning. The origin of the Easter Bunny is not entirely known but many believe that it was brought to America by Germans in the 1700s. The use of bunnies also symbolizes birth and renewal in spring. In some European countries, different animals brought Easter eggs, like in Switzerland the cuckoo and in Westphalia the fox.

Easter foods – Many countries all over the world have their own type of Easter foods made, a popular example is Easter Lamb. It’s prepared roasted or grilled and it’s a traditional meal in many Mediterranean countries. The lamb ties back in the bible as Jesus is referred to as ‘The Lamb of God’ and it was used as a sacrificial animal in ancient Israel. They place it under the altar, bless the lamb, and then eat it, so this custom has a deep connection to Easter.

Easter has been around since the earliest observance of the holiday from the 2nd century, and is very popular among countries to celebrate it. Even though this holiday is important for Christians, this day is for everyone to celebrate. To enjoy and celebrate the new season for sunny days, warmth, and new life.

Sources
Easter Sunday | April 9, 2023 - Calendarr
Easter | Origin, History, Name, Facts, & Dates | Britannica