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"The Lord of life has risen with power,
bringing with him love and justice,
respect, forgiveness and reconciliation.
The One who from nothingness
had called the world into existence,
only he could break the seals of the tomb,
only he could become the source of New Life."
- Pope John Paul II
Scholars, accepting the derivation proposed by the 8th-century English scholar St. Bede, believe the name Easter is thought to come from the Scandinavian "Ostra" and the Teutonic "Ostern" or "Eastre," both Goddesses of mythology signifying spring and fertility whose festival was celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox. This greatest of all Christian festivals celebrates Christ's resurrection from the dead, which occurred during the Jewish spring feast of Passover or Pesach -- hence its Latin, Scots, and Welsh names, respectively Pascha, Palsch or Pesse, and Pasg.
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Because the date of Passover is variable [being dependent on the phases of the moon], it follows that Easter is also a movable feast. Long and bitter were disputes about the proper way to calculate its date. In fact, this was the principal point at issue between the Celtic churches of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, and the Latin church established in England -- but eventually the Roman view triumphed in Western Europe. Easter is now celebrated (in the words of the Book of Common Prayer) on "the first Sunday after the full moon which happens on (or next Sunday) following the 21st of March the Spring Equinox".
Whenever it's celebrated, Easter is a holy day of obligation, when all Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox Catholics, and Anglican Christians are obliged to attend church and receive Communion. [Roman Catholics must make their annual "Easter duty" by Easter Sunday.] Joyous peals of bells are rung, and churches everywhere are decorated. A few parishes still maintain an old tradition of using evergreens [symbolic of eternal life and embroidered in red on white, or woven in straw]. But most churches prefer festive displays of spring flowers in green, yellow, and white, which is the color scheme of those glorious Easter lilies bedecking the altar.
Easter is observed by the churches of the West on the first Sunday following the full moon that occurs on or following the spring equinox (March 2I). So Easter became a "movable" feast which can occur as early as March 22 or as late as April 25.
Alleluia, it's Easter time ! It's a season to rejoice with friends and family and have a whole lotta fun with Easter bunnies, egg hunts, jellybeans and Easter baskets overflowing with goodies ! Wish everyone you know a great Easter, and a very Happy Easter to you too ! |
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