Easter, which celebrates Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the
dead, is Christianity’s most important holiday. It has been called a
moveable feast because it doesn’t fall on a set date every year, as most
holidays do. Instead, Christian churches in the West celebrate Easter
on the first Sunday following the full moon after the vernal equinox on
March 21. Therefore, Easter is observed anywhere between March 22 and
April 25 every year. Orthodox Christians use the Julian calendar to
calculate when Easter will occur and typically celebrate the holiday a
week or two after the Western churches, which follow the Gregorian
calendar.
Easter is really an entire season of the Christian church year, as opposed to a single-day observance. Lent, the 40-day period leading up to Easter Sunday, is a time of reflection and penance and represents the 40 days that Jesus spent alone in the wilderness before starting his ministry, a time in which Christians believe he survived various temptations by the devil. The day before Lent, known as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday, is a last hurrah of food and fun before the fasting begins. The week preceding Easter is called Holy Week and includes Maundy Thursday, which commemorates Jesus’ last supper with his disciples; Good Friday, which honors the day of his crucifixion; and Holy Saturday, which focuses on the transition between the crucifixion and resurrection. The 50-day period following Easter Sunday is called Eastertide and includes a celebration of Jesus’ ascension into heaven.
In addition to Easter’s religious significance, it also has a commercial side, as evidenced by the mounds of jelly beans and marshmallow chicks that appear in stores each spring. As with Christmas, over the centuries various folk customs and pagan traditions, including Easter eggs, bunnies, baskets and candy, have become a standard part of this holy holiday.