History Of Easter Brings Many Traditions
To many people Easter is a day that ends the 40 days of Lent, and brings with it the return of anything they may have sacrificed throughout the Lenten season. To others it is the beginning of a season of rebirth, re-growth and renewal. There are also different opinions on the history of Easter, however many agree that some traditions remaining a part of the celebration come from Pagan beliefs defining the history of Easter.
Western civilizations celebrate Easter as the resurrection of Jesus Christ and it is one of the only changeable holidays celebrated. Easter can fall anywhere between March 22 and April 25, due to the difference in the lunar full moon and the ecclesiastical full moon. It is generally accepted, based on the history of Easter that it will be celebrated on the first Sunday following the full moon that occurs on or following the spring equinox which occurs on March 21.
It was in the year 325 that it was decided that Easter should be celebrated on a Sunday, the day Jesus was resurrected, which had become the holy day of the week. While originally in the history of Easter, the Quartodecimans followed the Jewish celebration on the 14th day of the month, regardless of which day of the week it fell. It took several centuries to develop a common method of computation before it was accepted throughout Christianity.
Many Traditions Have New Birth Roots
The history of Easter includes many customs such as the Easter rabbit and Easter egg that were born from Pagan history and have nothing to do with the religious history. Rabbits and eggs are symbols of fertility relating to many to the vernal equinox and many of the antique parts of the history of Easter relate to these new beginnings, such as the Christian relationships of the resurrection of Jesus as being a new beginning.
Many in western culture will color eggs on the night before Easter only to have the Easter bunny hide them that night for children to hunt the next day has no bearing on religion and no logical explanation as to why this is done can be found in any ancient culture. It is also left to the imagination as to why the Easter bunny may bring presents in addition to hiding the eggs and leave them is baskets for children. The Easter bunny’s tie to eggs is also unexplained as rabbits bear their young while birds and chickens lay eggs.
