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Easter: Easter Holiday
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The English word Easter, which parallels the German word Ostern, is of uncertain origin. One view, expounded by the Venerable Bede in the 8th century, was that it derived from Eostre, or Eostrae, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring and fertility. This view presumes—as does the view associating the origin of Christmas on December 25 with pagan celebrations of the winter equinox—that Christians appropriated pagan names and holidays for their highest festivals. Given the determination with which Christians combated all forms of paganism, this appears a rather dubious presumption. There is now widespread consensus that the word derives from the Christian designation of Easter week as in albis, a Latin phrase that was understood as the plural of alba (“dawn”) and became eostarum in Old High German, the precursor of the modern German and English term. The Latin and Greek pascha (“Passover”) provides the root for Pâcques, the French word for Easter.
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Easter is a time to gather family and friends around a festive dinner table. Here are many recipes your family is sure to love, featuring lamb and the other ham for the main dishes. The recipes highlight the holiday's traditions and the best foods of spring.
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Easter cards arrived in Victorian England, when a stationer added a greeting to a drawing of a rabbit. According to American Greetings, Easter is now the fourth most popular holiday for sending cards, behind Christmas, Valentine's Day, and Mother's Day.
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The shift of the Easter Holiday to the March 2006 period from the April 2005 period impacted comparable store sales by approximately 1.5%. A recorded message providing April sales will be available beginning Wednesday, May 10, at 4:30 p.m. EDT through Wednesday, May 31, by dialing 1-973-528-0005 and entering pass code 1313. The company plans to release May sales on June 7, 2006.
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The English word for the feast of the resurrection, Easter, differs from the feast's name in other regions. In other regions the term is "Pascha," which is derived from the word for "Passover." The word "Easter" might come from an Anglo-Saxon spring goddess. This is probably because the festival of Easter overlapped some pagan holiday in ancient England. While some have used this fact to say celebrating Easter is pagan, the fact is that only the name comes from a pagan source, probably stemming from popular usage (see FAQ below).
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Easter began as a celebration of life returning to the world after the dead of winter. These ancient festivities have merged with Christianity and the rebirth of Christ. Whether you honor the old rites or rejoice in the new spring is on its way with flowers, baby chicks, and bunnies! Learn more about this holiday.
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Easter Holiday