When was easter first celebrated

Easter typically falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring on or after the spring equinox. Eastertide ends on the 50th day after Easter, which is known as Pentecost Sunday.

Despite its significance as a Christian holy day, many of the traditions and symbols that play a key role in Easter observances actually have roots in pagan celebrations—particularly the pagan goddess Eostre—and in the Jewish holiday of Passover. The resurrection of Jesus, as described in the New Testament of the Bible , is essentially the foundation upon which the Christian religions are built.

Hence, Easter is a very significant date on the Christian calendar. He was sentenced to death by Pontius Pilate , the Roman prefect in the province of Judea from 26 to 36 A. Notably, Easter is also associated with the Jewish holiday of Passover, as well as the exodus of the Jews from Egypt, as described in the Old Testament.

The Last Supper was essentially a Passover feast. These rituals would come to symbolize the sacrifice he was about to make in death, and became the basis for the Christian ritual of Holy Communion, which remains a fundamental part of Christian religious services. In western Christianity, including Roman Catholicism and Protestant denominations, the period prior to Easter holds special significance. This period of fasting and penitence is called Lent. It begins on Ash Wednesday, and lasts for 40 days not including Sundays.

Many churches begin the Easter observance in the late hours of the day before Holy Saturday in a religious service called the Easter Vigil.

What Other Proof Exists? Irrespective of denomination, there are many Easter-time traditions with roots that can be traced to non-Christian and even pagan or non-religious celebrations. Today, Pagans continue to celebrate spring and attribute the change of the seasons to the powers of their god and goddess — also portrayed as The Green Man and Mother Earth. For Christians, Easter is associated with the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ approximately 2, years ago.

Jesus Christ, the true Messiah, was crucified and resurrected at the time of the Jewish Passover. Lent, a day period that leads up to Easter Sunday, is a time of reflection that represents the 40 days that Jesus Christ had spent alone in the wilderness before beginning his ministry.

At this time, Christians believe that he had survived many temptations by the devil. The day before Lent starts, known as Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras, is a final celebration of fun and food before the fasting begins.

The week before Easter is known at the Holy Week. Rabbits and hares are also associated with fertility and were symbols linked to the goddess Eostre. The first association of the rabbit with Easter, according to Professor Cusack, was a mention of the "Easter hare" in a book by German professor of medicine Georg Franck von Franckenau published in Commercialisation during the 19th century saw rabbits become a popular symbol of Easter with the growth of the greeting card industry.

The first edible Easter bunnies made from sugared pastry were made in Germany in the 19th century. Big confectionery companies, like Cadbury in England, started manufacturing chocolate eggs. Today, chocolate eggs and egg hunts are a popular part of Easter celebrations around the world. Australia's significant public holiday periods of Easter and Christmas are based on Christian European celebrations. So although autumn is in full swing and winter is coming in the Southern Hemisphere, rabbits and eggs as symbols of spring remain part of Australian festivities.

On Easter Sunday, the Easter bunny will deliver chocolate eggs to children and there will be egg hunts in backyards and parks across Australia. Christian Australians will attend church services and the majority of secular Australians will enjoy the four-day weekend feasting and relaxing with family and friends.

All the while, the chocolate bunnies and eggs serve as a reminder of Easter's ancient origins and Christian traditions. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work.

Solid chocolate eggs also became fashionable in France and Germany around this time. The first hollow Easter eggs that most closely resembles what we enjoy today was invented and made in Bristol, by chocolatier J. Playing silly games such as the egg and spoon race is something Brits love to do and the aim of the game is to run a race while balancing a hard-boiled egg on a spoon. The first person to finish the race, without dropping the egg, is the winner. Other traditions include the obligatory Easter egg hunt whereby someone acting as the legendary Easter bunny, one of the symbols of Easter hides chocolate eggs around the house or garden and contestants race around to find as many as possible.