Christian Easter is one of the most important festivities for christianity, because it represents the resurrection of Jesus Christ, The son of God.
The date is celebrated annually on the first Sunday after the first full moon which occurs in early spring (in the Northern Hemisphere) and autumn (in the Southern Hemisphere). The date is always between March 22nd and April 25th. In 2021, Easter Sunday will be celebrated on April 4th.
In Christianity, different religions and denominations celebrate Easter differently. For example, Evangelicals celebrate differently than Catholics. While Catholics are encouraged not to eat meat during Lent, Evangelicals do not have this restriction.
Furthermore, evangelicals, in general, do not usually celebrate every day of Holy Week like Catholics, giving more importance to Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
During the 40 days preceding the Holy Week and Easter - period known as Lent - Catholics dedicate themselves to penance to remember the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert and the sufferings he endured on the cross.
Read about the meaning of Lent.
Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, which commemorates Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, when people covered the road with palm leaves to commemorate his arrival.
Good Friday is the day Christians celebrate Jesus' death on the cross. And finally, with the arrival of Easter Sunday, Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Christ and his first appearance among his disciples.
Origin of Easter
Easter was already celebrated before the rise of Christianity. It was a commemoration of the Jewish people for being freed from slavery in Egypt, which lasted for about 400 years.
According to the Bible, Jesus supposedly participated in several Easter celebrations. When he was twelve years old, he was taken for the first time by his parents, Joseph and Mary, to celebrate Easter, as some of the stories in the Bible's New Testament recount.
The most famous participation reported in the bible was the "Last Supper", where Jesus and his disciples made the "communion of body and blood", symbolized by the bread and wine.
See also the meanings of Easter symbols, Holy Week and day of Pentecost.
Jewish Passover
The Passover instituted among the Jews - Passover - is commemorated for the achievement of freedom of the Hebrews, who lived as slaves in Egypt.
This release coincided with spring, which occurred in the Hebrew month (nissan) which more or less corresponds to the last days of March and mid-April.,
The celebrations merged with the religious traditions of its people. Easter has been amplified by Christianity with a new meaning.
Jews follow the tradition described in the book of Exodus: “And this day shall be a memorial unto you, and ye shall celebrate it as a feast unto the LORD; in your generations you will celebrate it for perpetual status” (Exodus 12-14).
During the festivities of Passover / Passover, a special celebration dinner called "Seder of Passover", which aims to bring the whole family together. O Passover Jew is celebrated for seven days.
Learn more about the meaning of Easter.