Easter is the Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of the Christian Messiah, Jesus Christ. The most important festival in the Christian calendar, Easter is celebrated on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25, depending how Lunar calendar corresponds to the Gregorian calendar in that particular year. Since the date of Easter changes each year, so too do the other Lenten festivals that fix their dates according to Easter, such as Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday and Good Friday.

The story of Easter is one of persecution and rebirth, making it the central experience of the Christian belief system. On the Friday before Easter, Christians believe that Jesus was executed by crucifixion. His body is believed to have been removed from the cross and buried in a guarded cave, with a large boulder blocking the entrance.

Tradition continues that the following Sunday, Jesus' gravesite was visited by faithful women-Jesus' mother the Virgin Mary may have been among them-who discovered that the cave was empty. Later that day and for several days after, Jesus' followers sighted him and came to believe that Jesus had been risen from the dead by God.

Jesus' resurrection holds central importance in Christian liturgy, as the pinnacle expression of sin and redemption. Romans 4:25 explains that, "Jesus was put to death for our trespasses and raised for our justification."

Jesus' resurrection - his being "raised" - is understood as evidence that he, through his righteousness, can redeem not only himself in death, but also the entire Christian community in life. As Romans 5:18 says: "Just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men."

Furthermore, this watershed event has formed the Christian idea that humans must no longer live under the dominion of death or the power of sin. Again, Romans 6:9-11 teaches, "For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him…In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Jesus Christ."

Today, Easter is clearly a Christian holiday, with deep liturgical and traditional significance. However, scholars actually believe that the festival has its roots in a number of pre-Christian faiths, including Pagan and Jewish. For example, historians believe that the word Easter is derived from the Saxon name of the Pagan goddess of spring and fertility, Eastre. The lunar calendar month of April was dedicated to a celebration of Eastre, featuring rituals to mark the vernal equinox and welcome the fertility associated with springtime.

Many of these Pagan traditions have been incorporated into Christianity's celebration of Easter today. The Easter bunny and Easter eggs, for instance, are both Pagan symbols of fertility. Even the story of Jesus' resurrection is echoed in Pagan mythology. The Greek legend of Persephone, for example, tells of her return from the underworld. This myth was understood by ancient Greeks as a metaphor for the return of spring after the darkness of winter. The Phrygians similarly believed that their omnipotent deity hibernated during the winter solstice and was awoken in the spring by their musical festivals.

The traditions of Easter also have roots in the Jewish springtime holiday of Passover. The name Easter is reflected in the Hebrew word for Passover, or Pesach. In Europe, the word Pasch is synonymous with the name Easter.

Furthermore, Jesus' disciples were the first Christians, many of whom are thought to have been historically Jewish. Scholars believe, in fact, that the first Easter celebrations were likely understood as a new form of commemorating the coming of the Messiah, a key component of Passover liturgy.

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bayisa

02:28 04/24/2008

 

Friends are like stars. You can't always see them, But you know they are always there for you...

Shana

17:33 04/18/2008

 

I think that your prescription about Jesus should have more details that would tell me more about him, you know why I'm saying not enough?well it's because I have todo this S.A. or should I say assighnment from my church and I need super big imformation or I could just say a whole lot of specific imformation. I've explained it enough and I know.

KAREN L LEWIS

14:29 04/01/2008

 

I can not believe that I looked up a story about a religious event and the name of God is disguiessed... How insulting to the story itself... Why bother to the the story if you can't spell his name...

april ueligitone

18:25 03/27/2008

 

thanks for acknowledging the pagan origins of Easter. Very sad many would rather follow traditions of men and not the word of god.

sabiyana

04:36 03/26/2008

 

There is no word as beautiful as GOD.No example of as beautiful as JESUS "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. "

nazmie

13:25 03/25/2008

 

Christianity and The Origins of Easter Easter is the Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of the Christian Messiah, Jesus Christ. The most important festival in the Christian calendar, Easter is celebrated on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25, depending how Lunar calendar corresponds to the Gregorian calendar in that particular year. Since the date of Easter changes each year, so too do the other Lenten festivals that fix their dates according to Easter, such as Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday and

A concerned Mother...

00:44 03/25/2008

 

Actually, history in truth exposes where Easter actually comes from & more christians today are finding out that their traditional religious roots are made of false teachings...Jesus was cut off(died/crucified)in the middle of the week as prophesied by the book of Daniel, also the Jews days were counted differently then todays 24hrs in a day, sunset to them was the start of a new day & Jesus Himself said as Jona was in the belly of the whale, the son of man also would be in the belly of the earth 3 days & 3 nights...so by jewish calendar that would put it sometime on wednight/thurs morn that he was buried...there were2 sabbaths that fateful week & no body could hang on a cross/beam on the day of preparation...these facts can be easily found in works of Josephus, Philo,&Ecclesiastical History of the early church by Eusebius' the KJV bible, The Annals of the World by Ussher,Strong's concordance, a good bible dictionary,& asking God to guide you everyday in His truth! religious holidays came from pagan holidays...thanks to emperor Constantine, he no longer could keep up with martyring the christians...so he made a decree across the land that all were to become christians & continue in their holidays, but put christ upon them, that is how we get christmas, easter, and the likes of that. The ancient of days has not changed, Jesus died for our sins, for we are to grow in truth & spirit, & all I can see is desolation growing in this land of ours & strangers having more religious freedom than Americans who were born here in this so called Godly Nation. My pray is that we all find it before our destined time to face the father, or pass freely into Jesus' kingdom... when he looks in your book of life what will he find?! I pray he finds a heart that hungers for His truth alone, & repentance in the times of my weakness, but above all, I hope he finds love for others in my heart-Godbless you everyone!!!

Frank J Rizzo

20:08 03/24/2008

 

According to the bible Jess ate the passover supper was arrested on pass over died & was buried.and rose on the 3rd day, who changed the date of Easter, And Why ? If Easter is to celebrate Jusus raising fom the dead.Then it should be 3 days after Passover.So as I see it Easter Hasn't come yet, when passover come then I will celebrate the resurrection of my Lord

Awil Osman

12:35 03/24/2008

 

First and foremost have a nice Easter! Further, We muslims share with the christians a lot of things in this world and have many things in common. We believe in our holy book that Jesus the son of Mary was not crucified nor touched; he was defended by God (Allah ) and raised to high in the heavens! He was a prophet and human like Moses, David and Mohammed. Wish happy holidays, Awil

Brandi

16:05 03/23/2008

 

Praise the Lord! Jesus is risen & continues to live in not just Heaven, but in our hearts & souls today! Happy Easter & God Bless!