Easter
Easter is a feast or festival of the Christian church that commemorates the resurrection of Christ. It is celebrated on the first Sunday following the full moon that occurs on or after March 21st; or one week later if the full moon falls on Sunday. It falls between March 22nd and April 25th.
Easter was originally a pagan festival honoring Eustre, a Teutonic goddess of light and spring. At the time of the vernal equinox (the day in the spring when the sun crosses the equator and day and night are of equal length), sacrifices were offered in her honor. As early as the 8th century, the word was used to designate the annual Christian celebration of the resurrection of Christ.
Did you know that the Eastern and Western churches have one faith, yet two Easters?
The Western church does not use the actual, or astronomically correct date for the vernal equinox, but a fixed date of March 21st. And by the full moon, it does not mean the astronomical full moon but the "ecclesiastical moon" which is based on the tables created by the church. This is how Easter dates can be calculated in advance.
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Easter is a feast or festival of the Christian church that commemorates the resurrection of Christ. It is celebrated on the first Sunday following the full moon that occurs on or after March 21st; or one week later if the full moon falls on Sunday. It falls between March 22nd and April 25th.
Easter was originally a pagan festival honoring Eustre, a Teutonic goddess of light and spring. At the time of the vernal equinox (the day in the spring when the sun crosses the equator and day and night are of equal length), sacrifices were offered in her honor. As early as the 8th century, the word was used to designate the annual Christian celebration of the resurrection of Christ.
Did you know that the Eastern and Western churches have one faith, yet two Easters?
The Western church does not use the actual, or astronomically correct date for the vernal equinox, but a fixed date of March 21st. And by the full moon, it does not mean the astronomical full moon but the "ecclesiastical moon" which is based on the tables created by the church. This is how Easter dates can be calculated in advance.
Return to Other Topics | Next Page