Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Why Do We Celebrate Easter?

Easter Bunny and Easter Egg

Easter is a ‘Christian Holiday’ and prior to 325 A.D it was not celebrated on fixed day. Rather, it was variously celebrated on different days of the week, including Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Easter celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day of his crucifixion.

The origin of Easter dates back to the beginning of Christianity. Previously Easter was known as the Sunday of Pascha. The question of the date of Easter was solved in 325 A.D by the council of Nicaea. The council decided that Easter should fall on Sunday following the first full moon after vernal equinox. March 21 was made out to be the perfect date for spring equinox. Till then, the same date has been followed, to celebrate Easter.

 

Below Easter info from Wikipedia (Read More):-

Easter (Greek: Πάσχα, Pascha) is the most important annual religious feast in the Christian liturgical year.[1] According to Christian scripture, Jesus was resurrected from the dead on the third day from his crucifixion. Christians celebrate this resurrection on Easter Day or Easter Sunday[2] (also Resurrection Day or Resurrection Sunday), two days after Good Friday and three days after Maundy Thursday. The chronology of his death and resurrection is variously interpreted to be between 26 and 36 AD. Easter also refers to the season of the church year called Eastertide or the Easter Season. Traditionally the Easter Season lasted for the forty days from Easter Day until Ascension Day but now officially lasts for the fifty days until Pentecost. The first week of the Easter Season is known as Easter Week or the Octave of Easter. Easter also marks the end of Lent, a season of fasting, prayer, and penance.

Easter is linked to the Jewish Passover not only for much of its symbolism but also for its position in the calendar.

Relatively newer elements such as the Easter Bunny and Easter egg hunts have become part of the holiday's modern celebrations, and those aspects are often celebrated by many Christians and non-Christians alike. There are also some Christian denominations who do not celebrate Easter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter

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