Sarah Mitchell
Easter is a principal festival of the Christian church, celebrated by Catholics as the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It is preceded by Lent, a 40-day period of penance and fasting, and Holy Week, which includes Maundy Thursday, commemorating the Last Supper, Good Friday, the day of Crucifixion, and Holy Saturday, the transition between Crucifixion and Resurrection. The date of Easter is calculated as the first Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox, and it can fall anywhere between March 22 and April 25. The Eastern Orthodox churches use a different calculation, resulting in a later celebration than that of Roman Catholics and Protestants.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | Falls on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox (March 21) |
| Date range | Between March 22 and April 25 |
| Preceding events | Lent, a 40-day period of penance and fasting |
| Preceding events | Holy Week, which includes Maundy Thursday, commemorating the Last Supper; Good Friday, the day of Crucifixion; and Holy Saturday, the transition between Crucifixion and Resurrection |
| Vigil | The Easter Vigil is celebrated between sunset on Easter Saturday and sunrise on Easter Sunday |
| Liturgy | Involves symbols of light, candles, water, and readings from the Old and New Testament |
| Paschal candle | Denotes the appearance of light out of darkness through the Resurrection |
| Baptism | The priest blesses the water to be used for baptism in the coming year |
| Feast of Mercy | A feast celebrated on the Sunday after Easter, including a public blessing and liturgical veneration of Jesus' image |
| Pentecost | Marks the end of the Easter season, celebrated 50 days after Easter |
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What You'll Learn
The Easter Vigil
The Vigil is characterized by a number of Gregorian chants, medieval and reformational hymns, and powerful symbolism, including darkness, fire, water (Baptism), and oil (Confirmation). The exact time varies, but it always begins after dusk and should end before daybreak on Easter Sunday. A "blazing fire" is prepared in a suitable place outside the church, and the people gather around it, experiencing the flames dispelling the darkness and lighting up the night.
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The Paschal candle
The use of the Paschal candle was first recorded in the year 384 and became a general custom by the 10th century. The candle symbolises the appearance of light out of darkness through the Resurrection of Jesus. The Paschal candle is typically blessed by the priest during the Easter Vigil liturgy.
The Easter Vigil is a joyous occasion for Catholics as it commemorates the Resurrection of Jesus, which is the central event celebrated during Easter. This belief in the Resurrection is a cornerstone of the Christian faith, as it symbolises the anticipation believers can have in their own resurrection and the fulfilment of God's salvific plan for humanity.
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Holy Week
In the Christian calendar, Easter is preceded by Lent, a period of 40 days (not counting Sundays) of penance and fasting. Immediately before Easter is Holy Week, which includes several important days in the Christian faith.
The Easter Vigil is an important part of Holy Week. It was originally observed between sunset on Easter Saturday and sunrise on Easter Sunday. In 1955, the Roman Catholic Church set the time for the vigil at 10 pm, allowing for the Easter mass to be celebrated after midnight. The Easter Vigil includes symbols of light, candles, and water, as well as readings from the Old and New Testaments.
Easter Sunday is the greatest of all Sundays in the Catholic liturgical calendar, as it celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is followed by 50 days of Easter, culminating in Pentecost, which marks the end of the Easter season.
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The Resurrection of Jesus
Easter is a principal festival of the Christian church, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion. The earliest recorded observance of an Easter celebration comes from the 2nd century, though the commemoration of Jesus’ resurrection probably occurred earlier.
The Christian festival of Easter follows Lent, a period of 40 days (not counting Sundays) traditionally observed by acts of penance and fasting. Easter is immediately preceded by Holy Week, which includes Maundy Thursday, commemorating the Last Supper; Good Friday, the day of Jesus' Crucifixion; and Holy Saturday, the transition between Crucifixion and Resurrection.
The liturgical observation of Easter begins on the night of Holy Saturday with the Easter Vigil, which follows an ancient liturgy involving symbols of light, candles, and water, as well as numerous readings from the Old and New Testaments. The Paschal candle, denoting the appearance of light out of darkness through the Resurrection, was first recorded in the year 384 and gained general usage by the 10th century.
Easter Sunday is the greatest of all Sundays, marking the Lord's resurrection from the dead and his Ascension to the Father. The octave of Easter comprises the eight days from the first to the second Sunday, prolonging the joy of the initial day. The season of Easter is characterised by the victory over death expressed in the great cry of the Christian: Alleluia!
The day after Easter is also significant, known as Divine Mercy Sunday. This feast day celebrates God's mercy, as revealed by Jesus, and is an occasion for receiving a plenary indulgence, "the remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sin whose guilt has already been forgiven".
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The Afterfeast of Easter
The octave of Easter, an eight-day period from the first to the second Sunday after Easter, is a significant part of the Afterfeast. It prolongs the joy of the Resurrection and emphasizes the victory over death, expressed in the Christian cry of "Alleluia!" The season of Easter is considered the most important liturgical time for Catholics, as they celebrate the Lord's Resurrection and anticipate His Ascension to the Father and the sending of the Holy Spirit.
The Feast of Mercy, established after Jesus appeared to Sr. Faustina in Poland in 1931, is celebrated on the Sunday after Easter. It includes a public blessing and liturgical veneration of His image with the inscription, "Jesus, I trust in You." This feast day offers the faithful an opportunity to receive a plenary indulgence, representing the "remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sin whose guilt has already been forgiven."
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Frequently asked questions
Easter is a principal festival of the Christian church that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion.
Easter falls on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox (March 21). It can be celebrated anytime between March 22 and April 25.
Catholics celebrate Easter as the Lord's resurrection from the dead, culminating in his Ascension to the Father and sending of the Holy Spirit upon the Church. The Easter Vigil is an important part of the celebration, with the Paschal candle being lit and various readings from the Old and New Testaments.
The earliest recorded observance of an Easter celebration comes from the 2nd century, though the commemoration of Jesus’ Resurrection probably occurred earlier. The custom of using a Paschal candle was first recorded in the year 384 and gained general usage by the 10th century.
The date of Easter is determined based on the spring equinox and the full moon. In 1997, the World Council of Churches proposed a reform to use modern scientific knowledge to calculate the date, but it was not adopted by any member body. There have been repeated calls for a universal date for Easter.
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