Celebrating Easter

The most important Christian celebration will be celebrated this weekend. (In the U.S. Thanksgiving and Christmas remain among the most popular holidays.)

Easter Sunday, the day which marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ, is the most widely celebrated Christian holiday worldwide per most online sources. 

Its date is much later this year because, unlike Christmas always celebrated on December 25, Easter is one of the religious holidays without a fixed calendar date and called a “movable feast.” Simply stated that means it doesn't fall on the same calendar date year to year. Thanksgiving, while not a religious event, is the same type of holiday

Why? In the Gregorian calendar, Easter is always observed on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25. In the Northern Hemisphere, it's celebrated on the Sunday after the first ecclesiastical full moon following the spring equinox. The Catholic Church uses March 21 to mark the spring equinox to calculate this date, but the equinox can fall between March 19-21.

The Bible doesn't make mention of a bunny decorated eggs, or chocolate candy, yet all of these have become prominently associated with Christianity’s most important holiday.

There are various stories, including that the Easter bunny came to in America in the 1700s when German immigrants, who settled in Pennsylvania, transported the tradition of an egg-laying hare, “Osterhase” or “Oschter Haws.” According to the story, good children received gifts of colored eggs in the nests that they made in their caps and bonnets before Easter.

The custom spread across the U.S. and the storied rabbit’s Easter morning deliveries expanded to include chocolate and other types of candy and toys and decorated baskets replaced nests. Additionally, children often left out carrots for the bunny in case he got hungry.

There are other stories in which the association of a bunny with Easter originates from pagan and Christian traditions, with rabbits symbolizing fertility and renewal, and eggs representing new life and the resurrection of Jesus.  

The Easter egg is believed to have its roots in pagan practices celebrating spring and rebirth.The egg, an ancient symbol of new life, has been associated with pagan festivals celebrating spring. Christian tradition later adopted the practice, associating eggs with the resurrection of Christ.

Egg decorating is a tradition that dates back to at least the 13th century. One explanation for this custom is that in some regions eating eggs was not allowed by church leaders during the weeks leading up to Easter. Eggs laid that week were saved and later decorated to mark the end of penance and fasting. These were then eaten in celebration on Easter and also given to children as gifts. 

We looked as colorful as the eggs did afterwards

For years, we decorated hardboiled eggs with the grandchildren, who are older now with other interests. But, that family tradition hasn't gone away. Today, we continued it and colored a dozen eggs, none of which will be gifts, some will result in egg salad if not eaten Easter a.m.

Easter is the second best-selling candy holiday in America after Halloween. Chocolate bunnies and eggs remain the most popular choices. The most popular non-chocolate Easter candies are jelly beans and the sugary, pastel marshmallow confection, Peeps. In the past few years, Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs have risen in popularity even beating Peeps sales in some cities.

My childhood favorite was chocolate marshmallow eggs, which even came in their own carton; Patrick favored peanut butter ones. We both agree on our enjoyment of seasonal Cadbury Creme Eggs.

Do you have any favorites — then or now?

Easter Sunday won't be celebrated this late in April again until 5 years from now, but it will be celebrated in late March within 2 years. Here's when Easter Sunday will be celebrated for the next five years 2026 (April 5), 2027 (March 28), 2028 (April 16), 2029 (April 1), 2030 (April 21). 

Enjoy Your Holiday Celebration

We're dining at home and have invited two residents to join us.