Christian Answers: Apr 17, 2011

Easter is a holiday of a Christian that specifies the resurrection of Christ , the - according to Christian faith, on the third day after being crucified and buried in Jerusalem .

On etymology of the name of the holiday, Easter, Christmas is the name of the Passover in the Aramaic , which was the language common among early Christians. The holiday is called in English : Easter, in French : Les Pâques, in Spanish : Pascua, in Italian : Pasqua and Latin : Pascha (more on the holiday's name below ).

Story of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus appears in Gospels of the New Testament. On - Legend them, the Last Supper , the Passover Seder according to the usual, was on Thursday evening. The trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin and before Pontius Pilate was that night. The crucifixion occurred on Friday in the week the holiday occurs during Passover , resurrection occurred on Sunday next.

Therefore, Easter is always celebrated on Sunday a week early in the spring . Friday before Easter is called in some languages " Good Friday "or" Friday the Saint to the previous period is the period but characterized in the fast parts, called "Lent" (Lent) or " fast ". The fast ends on Sunday, Resurrection Day.

Easter is celebrated in all Christian churches, but on different dates. He always celebrated on Sunday a week, always at the beginning of spring . Holy Week , is the last week of 40 days of fasting, begins with Palm Sunday and ends on Sunday, then Easter day is the day that Jesus was resurrected.

Eastern Church, Greek Orthodox , the Frbuslabit , Coptic , etc., is considered the most significant holiday on the calendar, even more important than Christmas . Western churches, the Catholic and Protestant , tend to ascribe a similar importance to Christmas . Official holiday recognized holiday in most countries with a Christian tradition, and except for the resurrection of Jesus rituals, practiced in rituals and games for early spring.

Early spring rituals were practiced, apparently, even the period before Christianity, they incorporated into the Christian Easter with a receipt. In most countries of Europe (but not in the United States ) is acceptable to extend the Easter holiday and celebrate it for two days - Sunday and two week.

On the Name Easter?

Easter holiday is called in English and it comes from the German name for Ostern. There may be the origin of the holiday in some German languages (English content), this is the name of "Austria" (Eostre), it is possible that there feast is the name of the first month of spring was called "Ustermonat" (Eostremonat). These name symbolized the coming of spring. Christian holiday pagan symbols accompanied by these cult-related. Such as the rabbit that lays eggs story these sources sometimes painted with the head of a rabbit and eggs are a symbol of fertility.