Easter in 2023 will be on Sunday, April 9.”Moveable feasts” refers to Easter Sunday and other holidays like Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday. Easter, however, always falls on a Sunday between March 21 and April 25 in the Gregorian calendar-based western Christianity.
Easter occurs every year on a Sunday between April 4 and May 8 in the Julian calendar-based Eastern Orthodox religion. Thus, it normally occurs every year between April 4 and May 8.
What is Easter?
Easter, commemorating Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead after his death on Good Friday, is the oldest and most important holiday of the Western Christian calendar year.
Easter Sunday is the start of Eastertide and the conclusion of Holy Week (though it is not a part of it). Easter Week begins on Easter Sunday and finishes on Easter Saturday.
It is also known as Easter Day. Since it proves that Jesus is the Son of God and represents his victory over death, the resurrection of Christ serves as the cornerstone of the Christian faith. Easter is a significant religious event for many Christians.
The occasion marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which took place after the 40-day fast known as Lent. People celebrate the experience in various ways, including church services and prayer. Others prefer a more secular Easter celebration with bunnies, baskets, and vibrant eggs.
Easter 2023
Easter Sunday will be commemorated on Sunday, April 9, this year. The Gregorian calendar is used for this. Easter Sunday, April 16, 2023, will be Eastern Orthodox Easter (Julian calendar date converted to the Gregorian calendar).
During the calendar year 2023, Easter is commemorated on April 9th. One of the most important days in the Christian calendar, Easter, also known as Resurrection Sunday or Pascha, honours the New Testament’s account of Jesus Christ’s ascension from the grave.
History
The main Christian celebration of Easter, also known as Latin Pascha or Greek Pascha, commemorates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day following his Crucifixion.
Although the anniversary of Jesus’ Resurrection was likely observed earlier, the oldest recorded Easter celebration is from the second century. The remembrance of Jesus’ Resurrection was presumably kept earlier, but the first Easter celebration was first mentioned in the second century.
It’s unclear where the English term Easter originated, which sounds similar to the German word Ostern. This viewpoint suggests Christians took pagan names and festivities for their most important festivals.
Just with the perspective that links the origin of Christmas on December 25 to paganic rituals of the winter solstice.
Given the steadfastness with which Christians fought against paganism (the worship of several gods), this assumption seems somewhat doubtful. The French term for Easter, Pâques, derives from the Roman and Greek words Pascha (“Passover”) and Pâques.
How was the Easter date chosen?
Easter’s annual date was initially established by the Council of Nicaea, the first significant church council, in 325 AD. Some Christians decided to commemorate the event by celebrating what was known as the “month of Nisan,” which corresponds to March or April.
According to Brent Landau, a religious studies lecturer at the University of Texas, some Christians of this period. However, decided to observe the occasion on a Sunday since it was thought that this was the day Jesus’ tomb was found.
Easter should fall after the first full moon following the March equinox; the Council of Nicaea decided to end the dispute.
Symbols
Easter Eggs
The Easter egg is one of the most iconic images connected to the holiday. This image dates back to the Ancient Babylonians, who held that the fertility goddess Astarte was “hatched” when an egg from heaven fell into the Euphrates River.
At their spring ceremony, pagans would trade eggs for presents. Eggs are now decorated with vibrant colours and utilised in the perennially well-liked Easter egg hunt when they are buried for kids to locate and collect.
Easter Bunny
The Easter Bunny is another widely recognised Easter tradition. Similar to eggs, rabbits have long been used to symbolise the coming of spring and fertility. The Easter Rabbit custom has its roots in the ancient pagan celebration of Eostre, represented by a northern goddess connected to rabbits and hares.
The contemporary “Easter Bunny” provides eggs and sweets for kids to enjoy every Easter. He is most frequently portrayed as a huge white rabbit dressed in apparel.
White Lily
Foods served at Easter are heavily symbolic. In Jewish customs, a lamb was regularly used as a sacrificial animal, usually eaten during Passover. Therefore, an Easter feast with lamb also has historical origins. It’s common to refer to Jesus and the sacrificial character of his death as the “lamb of God.”
Another flower associated with the festival is the lily. The flower’s holy linkage with the life, joy, and hope represented by Jesus’ life narrative is made possible by its pure white colour, linked to purity and grace.
Easter Food
Conclusion
The Christian calendar’s most important feast day is Easter. Easter, which has been celebrated every year since the early days of the Church, commemorates Christ’s victory over death and resurrection from the cross.
Importantly, Easter is linked to the Jewish celebration of Passover and the Old Testament account of the Israelites’ departure from Egypt. The first full moon after the Spring equinox always precedes Easter Sunday, as the full moon dates vary from year to year.
So does Easter. Or her non-religious Easter customs include egg-rolling and egg-decorating activities and treasure hunts pursuing Easter eggs.
FAQS
Q: Who invented Easter and why?
Easter, it turns out, predates Christianity by many centuries and was originally a pagan holiday honouring the arrival of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
Q: Why is Easter celebrated with eggs?
This ancient tradition of using eggs as a symbol of new life and rebirth is believed to have evolved into an Easter celebration. Eating an egg on Easter Sunday was a wonderful pleasure since eating eggs during Lent (the 40 days leading up to Easter) was banned in the mediaeval era.