Easter is a Christian holiday that commemorates Christ’s resurrection from the dead after his crucifixion. It has been celebrated from the early days of the Church. It marks the end of Holy Week, the beginning of Lent, and the last day of the Easter Triduum, as well as the commencement of the liturgical year’s Easter season. The triumph of good over evil, sin, death, and the physical body is symbolized by the resurrection. 

Easter is a “movable feast,” meaning it does not occur on the same day every year. Between March 22 and April 25, it is usually observed on a Sunday. This year’s Easter falls just one day after April’s full Moon, which is the first full Moon after the ecclesiastical spring equinox and so known as the “Paschal Full Moon” in the Christian calendar. To cut a long tale short, Easter usually falls on the first Sunday following the Paschal Full Moon, which is why Easter this year is so late. 

What Is the Origin of the Word “Easter”? 

The origins of the word “Easter” are unknown. It’s not as straightforward as claiming religious or pagan beginnings. Some historians believe it was derived from the Latin phrase hebdomada alba, which meant “white week,” and was used to describe the white robes worn by new Christians when they were baptized during Holy Week. The word esostarum became esostarum in Old German, and then Easter. Early Christians began referring to the Resurrection Feast by the name of the month in which it was observed—Eosturmonath. In the end, no one really knows where the word “Easter” comes from etymologically. It is an Old English term that is over a thousand years old. In the end, it doesn’t matter if Easter is named after the goddess of dawn or after the Latin word for dawn. Easter is a Christian event that commemorates Christ’s resurrection and serves as a reminder that death brings life. 

Easter Celebrations Around The World 

Easter is a public holiday in many nations where Christianity is the national religion or where there are considerable Christian populations. Since Easter is always on a Sunday, several countries around the world observe Easter Monday as a national holiday. On Easter Sunday, several retailers, shopping malls, and restaurants are closed. Many countries, as well as 12 states in the United States, observe Good Friday, which falls two days before Easter Sunday. Many financial institutions, stock exchanges, and public schools are closed on Good Friday, even in areas where it is not a holiday; the few banks that are open on ordinary Sundays are also closed on Easter. 

Easter Sunday and Monday are both public holidays in the Netherlands. They are both considered Sundays, just as the first and second Christmas Days, resulting in a first and second Easter Sunday, followed by a Tuesday. 

Easter Day is rarely observed as a national holiday in Commonwealth countries, as it is for Sunday celebrations. Except for Scotland, where only Good Friday is a bank holiday, both Good Friday and Easter Monday are bank holidays in the United Kingdom. For government employees in Canada, Easter Monday is a paid holiday. Both Good Friday and Easter Monday are statutory holidays in the Canadian province of Quebec. 

Easter is related with harvest time in Australia. All states and territories observe public holidays on Good Friday and Easter Monday. Except for Tasmania and Western Australia, every state has a public holiday on Easter Saturday, whereas Easter Sunday is only a public holiday in New South Wales. In Tasmania, Easter Tuesday is a conditional public holiday that varies by award, and it was also a public holiday in Victoria until 1994. 

Easter has not been classified as a federal or state holiday in the United States since it falls on a Sunday, which is already a non-working day for federal and state personnel. Many American cities host Easter parades, which feature joyful strolling processions. 

The Easter Egg Conundrum 

The egg has long been seen as a sign of new life and rebirth. It became associated with Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection in Christianity. The Easter egg tradition began in Mesopotamia, where early Christians dyed eggs red in commemoration of Christ’s blood shed at his crucifixion. As a result, the Easter egg is a symbol of the empty tomb for Christians. The usage of dyed chicken eggs is the oldest tradition. Easter eggs are blessed by a priest in the Eastern Orthodox Church, both in families’ baskets with other items forbidden during Great Lent and separately for distribution in church or elsewhere. In the modern Western world, painted chocolate or plastic eggs filled with confectionery such as jellybeans are used instead; because many people give up sweets as a Lenten sacrifice, people enjoy them during Easter after having fasted from them for the prior forty days of Lent. Cadbury, the British chocolate firm that created the first Easter egg in 1875, sponsors the annual Easter egg hunt that takes place in over 250 National Trust venues around the United Kingdom. The President of the United States holds an annual Easter egg roll for young children on the White House lawn on Easter Monday. 

Who Is The Easter Bunny? 

Children in some cultures leave their empty Easter baskets out for the Easter bunny to fill while they sleep. When they wake up, their baskets are brimming with candy eggs and other goodies. The Easter Bunny is a popular legendary anthropomorphic Easter gift-giving character, similar to Santa Claus in American culture, that originated in Germany. Many children all across the world participate in the ritual of coloring hard-boiled eggs and receiving candy baskets. In the past, supernatural animals were also referred to as foxes, cranes, and storks. The Easter Bilby is an alternative to the rabbit, which is a problem in Australia. 

To end, we hope that in reading this article, you have not only learnt a little thing or two about Easter but have also had a very blessed and joyous Easter. We wish you blessings abundantly in life and we hope you stay safe.