The History of the Easter Holiday

Even if you don't pay attention to the calendar, you can always tell it's getting to be time for Easter just by visiting a grocery or drug store. Some department stores such as WalMart, K-Mart, and Target also carry a line of colorful marshmallow chicks and bunnies, chocolate crosses, creme-filled eggs, traditional jelly beans, and more.

The Easter holiday is signified by more than just candy, though. We know the celebration today as being a time to commemorate the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter is one of the most celebrated holidays of the modern Christian church. However, it wasn't always that way. The holiday was originally started by the pagans. It's interesting to learn that the name "Easter"actually came from the name "Eostre." Eostre was the pagan Greek goddess of spring.

You see, the ancient Greeks worried when they noticed the days got shorter in length during a certain time of the year. They were relieved, though, when the days began to get longer again later. In fact, they were so afraid that "the light" (the goddess) wouldn't return again, that they began to worship the Eostre goddess. The early Greeks held festivals every spring to celebrate her return. And when do you think they held their celebrations? On the same day as the vernal equinox, which is on March twenty-first every year...the first day of spring. In the northern hemisphere, the vernal equinox starts the time of the year when day and night are about the same in length.

The leaders of the Christian church refused to celebrate a pagan holiday. So, they changed the pagan holiday into the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Since it was no longer a celebration for a pagan goddess, they also changed the date on which it was held. In the year of 325 AD, the Church Council of Nicaea decided that the Easter holiday would be celebrated on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox. Therefore, unlike Christmas, which is always on the twenty-fifth day of December, the date of Easter changes from year to year. Easter can be as early as March twenty-second or as late as April twenty-fifth, according to the schedule which was set up by the Church Council.

Easter is more than just one Sunday in the spring. It actually is celebrated in combination with several other related holy days. Forty days before Easter Day is a holiday called, "Ash Wednesday." This day marks the beginning of Lent. Lent ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday. Then there is "Holy Week." This week runs from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. The "Good Friday" holiday is the last Friday preceding Easter. Good Friday marks the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, while Easter marks his resurrection. In the ancient church, Good Friday was kept by fasting and praying. It is considered to be be the holiest of the days in the Holy Week.