Passover begins on the 14th day of the first month of the Jewish year. It lasts for eight days, with the Jewish Christians celebrating His resurrection in association with the Passover. Gentile Christians wanted to celebrate on a Sunday, which causes the date to change each year.

Traditionally, the date for Easter is on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. The date is actually calculated based on the Paschal Full Moon, which is based on lunar tables rather than the actual phases of the moon. Today, Eastern churches use the Julian calendar while Western churches use the Gregorian calendar. Eastern churches maintain the tradition of Easter falling after the Passover, which doesn’t always correspond with Passover in the Western churches.

There are also many secular traditions associated with Easter. The Easter bunny, eggs and even the name Easter all stem from pagan beliefs. The name Easter is probably derived from the Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility, Eastre. She was honored during the month of April at the vernal equinox to celebrate the spring. The rabbit, as a symbol of fertility was associated with her. Eggs were painted as part of the celebration and they used bright colors to represent the spring sun. People still decorate eggs using bright colors, many times creating amazing works of art.

The tradition of the Easter Bunny bringing the eggs started with German settlers in America. They called him Oschter Haws. They also used the brightly colored eggs. Christians adapted the eggs to symbolize Christ’s rebirth. Another Easter tradition with a dual meaning is Hot Cross Buns. In pagan traditions, the x on the top of the bun represented the moon’s four quarters. Christians used it to symbolize as the cross on which Jesus was crucified.

All of these traditions have been blended over the years to become what we know now as Easter. Many families have found a way to balance the sacred with the secular to create many holiday memories for years to come.