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Easter History
Easter History, Traditions and Symbols
Confused about the 2007 Easter dates? This year's Easter date will be Sunday April 8, 2007.
Easter is a Christian celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The springtime celebration of Easter has its roots in the Jewish Passover, which commemorates Israel's deliverance from the bondage of Egypt. Early Christians observed Easter on the same day as Passover, a date determined by the lunar calendar. In the 2nd century, the Christian Easter celebration was changed to the Sunday following the 14-15 Nisan, if that day fell on a weekday. In the 4th century Good Friday became a separate commemoration of the death of Christ. Easter was then the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The name "Easter" came from the pagan spring festival of the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre, and many customs associated with Easter (Easter eggs) are of pagan origin.
Easter Day is currently the first Sunday after the full moon on or after March 21, the first day of spring. The Eastern Orthodox churches go by the Julian calendar, so they observe the Easter celebration several weeks later. The 40 days before Easter are called Lent, the period of preparation.
Lent
Lent has been observed since the 4th century. This is a 40 day period of prayer and fasting that precedes Easter and begins on Ash Wednesday. In the Western church, observance of Lent begins 6 1/2 weeks prior to Easter on Ash Wednesday (Sundays excluded). In the Eastern church the period extends over 7 weeks because both Saturdays and Sundays are excluded. Lent originally was a time when strict fasting was required. Only one meal each day was allowed and meat, fish, eggs, and milk products were forbidden. Today Lent is a time of prayer and performing works of charity.
Ash Wednesday
In the Western church, Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and the seventh Wednesday before Easter. Ash Wednesday got it's name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of worshipers to symbolize death and sorrow for their sins. In the Orthodox church, Lent begins on a Monday rather than on Ash Wednesday.
Good Friday
Good Friday is the Christian commemoration of the death of Jesus Christ and is observed on the Friday before Easter. Originally it was a day of fasting in preparation for the celebration of the death, resurrection and exaltation of Jesus. No liturgy was held on that day. In 4th century Jerusalem, a procession was staged from Gethsemane to the sanctuary of the cross, followed by readings about the passion. This was the beginning of the Good Friday observance as it is known today.
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