Easter is a lively, ever-changing holiday that ushers in the springtime each year on its own special Sunday. With dates ranging from late March to the end of April.
Easter 2023 is fast approaching, and this year we’ll be celebrating on Sunday, April 9. Get ready to hop into the festivities with friends and family.
While Easter is often considered the most wonderful time of the year for many Christians. For most others, it’s simply a time to indulge in chocolate and sweets while enjoying a few days off work at the start of spring.
When is Easter 2023?
The joyous celebration of Easter Sunday will be upon us on April 9, 2023. Mark your calendars and prepare to indulge in your favorite Easter treats. As the date has been determined through calculations using the widely accepted Gregorian calendar. So gather your loved ones and get ready to rejoice.
When is Orthodox Easter 2023?
The Eastern Christian or Orthodox churches hold the observance of Orthodox Easter Day as the most important and sacred season of the year. It is celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon after Passover. This year, the celebration will take place on April 16.
Easter Sunday 2023
Easter Sunday is a Christian holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It is celebrated on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox, which falls on April 9, 2023.
Families come together to celebrate this special day with religious services, delightful feasts, and the sharing of symbolic Easter eggs and thoughtful gifts. It’s a joyous time that fills hearts with love. It marks the end of the 40-day period of fasting known as Lent and is considered the most important festival in the Christian calendar.
What is Easter Sunday?
Easter is a spiritual celebration that holds deep significance for Christians worldwide, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. This annual event is marked by church services, festive meals, and the exchange of Easter eggs and gifts.
Easter Day, celebrated by countless individuals worldwide for centuries, is actually rooted in the ancient lunisolar calendar that has its origins all the way back to 3000 BC.
The ancient lunisolar calendar is still used to determine when special occasions like Easter occur. The date for this holiday falls on the Sunday following the first full moon of spring, an event that marks a time of renewal and celebration.
When Does Easter Typically Fall?
The most common Easter date falls on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox, which this year falls on April 16.
Why do Christians celebrate Easter?
Easter is a significant event in the Christian faith, as it commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. This event is considered the foundation of Christian belief, and the celebration of Easter is a way for believers to honor and acknowledge this pivotal moment in their religion.
The holiday marks the end of the period of fasting and repentance known as Lent. It is celebrated on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox, which in 2023 falls on April 9.
When is Good Friday 2023
Good Friday, a day of solemn commemoration in the Christian calendar, marks the Friday before the joyous celebration of Easter Sunday.
It is also referred to as Holy Friday, Great Friday, or Easter Friday and is a key part of the Paschal Triduum observance during Holy Week.
How do Other Religions Recognize Easter?
While Easter may be exclusively viewed as a religious holiday by Christians. It’s also acknowledged as the start of spring by many cultures and religions through their own unique celebrations. For instance, in Egypt, there’s ‘Sham el-Nessim,’ a day that marks the beginning of world creation.
Similarly, in Iran, they celebrate the start of spring/new year with ‘Nowruz,’ and in the Punjab and Pakistan, they celebrate spring with ‘Basant,’ which is characterized by flying kites and yellow flowers.
Easter may have a specific religious significance for Christians, but the start of spring is celebrated by many across different cultures and religions.
How is Easter Date decided?
Easter Sunday is always a special day that follows the Paschal Full Moon—the full moon observed on or after the start of spring. This magical phenomenon marks an exciting new season and signifies a time for celebration.
Christmas may be the same every year, but Easter’s date changes with each passing moon. Celebrated near the winter solstice and determined by the lunar cycles of the Jewish calendar.
Easter, in its most basic form, is a religious holiday that marks the first Sunday following the full moon that takes place after the vernal equinox. In the event that the full moon happens to fall on a Sunday, Easter is celebrated on the subsequent Sunday. This simple calculation forms the foundation for determining the date of Easter.
What Is the Paschal Full Moon?
Every spring, the Paschal Full Moon illuminates our sky in a unique way. Falling after the equinox, it can appear either during March or April – and its name originates from the Greek “Passover,” referencing Pesach in Hebrew. This celestial sight is a reminder of new beginnings that ushers each year.
What is Orthodox Easter?
The Eastern Christian tradition holds the celebration of Pascha, also known as Orthodox Easter and Resurrection Sunday, as the oldest and most significant festivity. It marks the momentous occasion of Jesus Christ rising from the grave, triumphantly overcoming his crucifixion and death.
The Western Christian tradition determines the date of Easter according to the Gregorian calendar. Which will fall between the dates of March 22 and April 25. However, the Eastern Christian tradition calculates Orthodox Easter using the Julian calendar, which has a 13-day discrepancy from the Gregorian calendar.
The celebration of Orthodox Easter, which commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, is held between April 4 and May 8, based on the occurrence of the first full moon after Passover.
In adherence to the New Testament, Orthodox Easter is always celebrated after the Jewish observance of Passover. It marks the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, which took place after he entered Jerusalem to celebrate Passover.
Easter VS Orthodox Easter
In the United States, Easter is traditionally celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon of the spring equinox. The date for Easter always falls between March 22 and April 25.
Conversely, the Orthodox tradition commemorates Easter on the Sunday after the first full moon post-Passover, with the date falling between April 4 and May 8.
