Why is it called “Easter” plus some Traditions 2024

In the beginning Christianity developed out of Judaism traditions, and Jesus directed his message  to Jewish communities. However, Chistianity offered many things that polytheistic a.k.a “Pagan” religions did not have. i.e. One powerful, legitimate god, tolerance, salvation, resurrection, after life reward,  equality among rich and poor, men and women, slaves and free people, a written scripture, among others. 

The Apostle Paul who was a Jew converted to Christianity  traveled preaching Jesus’ message and realized “Gentiles” a.k.a. non-jews, had difficulty converting to Judaism because of the Jewish laws of about food and circumcision.

Thus, the Jerusalem Council, a.k.a.  Apostolic Council described in chapter 15 of the Acts of the Apostles, allegedly held in Jerusalem with the purpose to allow jews and non-jews to convert to Christianity.The council decided that Gentile converts to Christianity were not obligated to keep most of the rules prescribed to the Jews by the Mosaic Law, such as Jewish dietary laws and other specific rituals, including  circumcision of males.

Countries all over the world still celebrate “Easter” using the Hebrew name for Passover “Pesach”, and dependent on the Hebrew calendar.

In U.S.A, we celebrate “Easter” using the name of a pre-Christian goddess in England, Eostre, who was celebrated at beginning of spring,  as a time of renewal, and fertility. The only reference to this goddess comes from the writings of the Venerable Bede, a British monk who lived in the late seventh and early eighth century.

That is why eggs, and rabbits became an important symbol of the “Resurrection of Christ” to this day all over the world.

Today, there are reenactments of Jesus’s last supper [Maundy Thrusday], and crucifixtion, religious processions, and  a church service, where the tone of the readings and music is always joyful. and then there is the family Easter dinner including a pork ham that fast breaks the 40 days of fast during Lent. Dinner must include peas and hard boiled eggs which are the symbol of Spring. People wear new clothes and in the olden days they wore “bonnetts” 

In the United States, egg shells, real or plastic are filled with candy or money and hidden for children to find as their treasure.

On a personal note, I remember, coming out of the church service and there were vendors selling egg shells filled with water, flour, and confetti, and the kids tried to break one of those egg shells on the head of a friend, and sometimes it ended up in glue on your hair. They also sold all kinds of sweet pastries including “buñuelos” and sweets made out of coconut, sunflower seeds, almonds, and milk. They also sold papier-mâché figures called “Judas” that will be blown up at night.

In many European countries, the tradition is to bake an egg bread and insert coloured hardboiled eggs in it, and in Easter Europe they have a special way of decorating Easter eggs called “Pisanchy” eggs.