History of Easter

While Easter is globally recognized and celebrated in both religious and secular contexts, its true origins, and details about the holiday itself often get hindered. In a religious context, it is typically celebrated by Christian individuals for the resurrection of Jesus, but how did the celebration come about and how did it continue to evolve? Typically known to be celebrated on a Sunday in April, many people do not understand how the exact day is determined, as this year it took place on April 20th.

Before diving into the various ways Easter is celebrated today and the specific details of determining the day, it is crucial to understand its origins beyond the basics. First and foremost, without Good Friday, there would not be Easter Sunday. Good Friday is the Friday before Easter which serves as a day of commemoration of Jesus’s crucifixion. It is significant to understand that Jesus’s crucifixion was carried out by the Romans as they viewed him as a threat to authority. This was because his claim as the Son of God also known as the Messiah meant that he would be more powerful than any other leader and be deemed as the King of Jews.

So, the Romans perceived this claim as the beginning of a possible rebellion against their traditional political system. As Jesus began gaining followers, it became clear that the Roman government would inevitably face resistance from its citizens. After being arrested and going on trial, a decision had to be made; Therefore, the only decision that appeared most justifiable was to carry out the execution of Jesus.  

Crucifixion was a popular punishment used during this time because of the intense and cruel pain it caused due to the strain it put on the body. This somber event marked Jesus’s death and was and is still seen as Jesus’s sacrifice for the forgiveness of the world’s sins, according to Christianity. Shortly after, he was buried in a tomb, and this led to the idea of Holy Saturday. This is simply the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. After a seemingly uneventful day, the resurrection of Jesus takes place, and, according to belief is risen from the dead. This discovery is first made when his tomb is found empty by women who are later told by angels that he had been resurrected. To prove he had risen from the dead, Jesus made numerous appearances to his disciples. In the span of forty days after his resurrection, Jesus serves as a teacher to the disciples as he reveals the importance of spreading his gospel to as many civilians as possible. After these forty days, Jesus officially ascends into Heaven, marking the end of his time on Earth.  

Now that the religious context of Easter is understood, this leads to how Easter began to be celebrated and why. It may serve as a surprise to many that the origins of Easter celebrations are not religious. Easter was originally a celebration of the spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. This is where both night and day are 12 hours each, symbolizing the transition from winter into spring. It was only the resurrection of Jesus that caused Easter to become a religious holiday.  Not only was it because the resurrection occurred around the same time as the vernal equinox but because they both represented rebirth and relief. While Easter was celebrated along with the spring equinox in 325AD, the first major church council, the Council of Nicaea, officially determined a new time for Easter to be celebrated. It was determined that it should always be celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox. Since Easter was heavily associated with springtime, it eventually became represented by rabbits and eggs. 

In the pagan celebration of the arrival of Spring, eggs and rabbits were seen as symbols of fertility and rebirth which made sense for it to be associated with the resurrection. Additionally, eggs were already a prominent symbol for Christians because of Lent, a 40-day celebration meant for fasting and abstaining from what an individual desires. In this case, Christians abstained from eggs during Lent and would celebrate on Easter Sunday by having eggs. Over time and as we see today, the Easter Egg Bunny became a prominent figure in how Easter is recognized and celebrated. It is now common to celebrate Easter with not only church services and prayer but also egg hunts and Easter baskets. Therefore, Easter has faced numerous transitions since its creation from a pagan holiday to a religious holiday and now incorporating secular traditions.  

All in all, Easter’s rich history has proven itself to be complex, yet significant in how it is celebrated today. While the secular traditions reflect how our world has changed over time, it is just as important to recognize Easter’s religious importance and why it continues to be observed with prayer and worship. It cannot be denied that Easter is a globally celebrated holiday that will continue to carry on its pagan history.    

Sources:  

Easter | Origin, Christianity, Jesus, Traditions, History, Name, Facts, & Dates | Britannica 

 Easter Symbols and Traditions - Easter Bunny, Easter Eggs & Christianity | HISTORY 

The history of Easter - Christianity