Easter or Pascha is the oldest and most important Christian feast, celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion, as described in the New Testament. Easter is preceded by Lent, a forty-day period of fasting and penance.
Easter is a moveable feast and is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first spring full moon. In Western Christianity (including Catholic and Protestant traditions) which uses Gregorian calendar the date of Easter varies between 22 March and 25 April. Eastern Christianity uses the Julian Calendar and for this reason it celebrates Easter about two weeks later, varying between 4 April and 8 May on the Gregorian calendar.
The Apostles celebrated it at the same time when the Jews celebrated their Passover, since the resurrection of Jesus took place the day after the celebration of Passover. It was celebrated by the Israelites to commemorate their deliverance from the slavery in Egypt. At the same time fell Jesus' death and resurrection. The Jews celebrated the Passover on Nisan 14, because that Moses commanded them. The month of Nisan was called the period (30 days) from the new moon in March to the new moon in April. However, due to the fact that Jesus resurrected on Sunday, Christians (starting from the second century) began to celebrate Easter on the first Sunday after the first spring full moon. So it passed the council of Nice in 325 AD, stating that the first spring full moon is considered to be that which falls after the equinox, i.e. March 21.
Easter is not nearly as popular as Christmas, probably because it is more difficult to understand. Easter joins two important events of which the first is deeply sad and dramatic while the other is just the opposite. The first one is, of course, the Crucifixion and Death of Christ after which his body was placed in the tomb. Three days later he Resurrected beating death. Resurrection is a triumph of life and even more astonishing than the miracle of Christ birth.
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