Easter: Variable Feast

Unlike other bank holidays such as Christmas which are celebrated on the same date every
year Easter dates vary each year.

Easter can fall on any day between 22 March and 25 April, so if you were born between
these dates you might find yourself celebrating your birthday on Easter day this year and
before or after Easter next year. This is because the Easter date is based on the lunar calendar
[moon] rather than our solar one, thus Easter always fall on the first Sunday following the full
moon after 21 March. If the full moon falls on a Sunday then Easter will be on the next
Sunday.

Though Easter is well tied with Christianity the name Easter came from the Pagan traditions
from the word Eostre. Eostre monath was the Anglo- Saxon name for April meaning the
month of openings but Christians celebrated the resurrection of Christ long before the word
Easter was used and they used the word Pascha which was taken from the Jewish festival
known as Passover.

Easter is celebrated worldwide and is known with a different name in other languages e.g;
a] Pascha- in Greek and Latin
b]Pasqua- in Italian
c] Pacques- in French

The now popular Easter bunny seems to have originated from Germany where it was first
mentioned in the Germans writing in the 1500s. The first Easter bunnies were then made in
Germany in the early 1800s and they were made of pastry and sugar.
The hare and rabbit served as symbols of a new life during the spring season as they were the
most fertile animals known, while the Easter egg also symbolised new beginnings.

Even though people now tend to indulge in different foods, the traditional dishes are still
a clear favourite in many families. The traditional Easter foods are;
a] Hot cross buns- traditionally served on Good Friday and are considered by Christians to
symbolise the cross of Christ.

b] Boiled eggs- traditionally served at breakfast during the Easter period.

c] Roast lamb- traditionally the main meat for the main meal served on Easter Sunday and
is symbolic to the Passover lamb.

d] Simnel cake- traditionally baked for tea; it was originally given to mothers as a gift
on mothering Sunday in mid Lent.

Easter day for 2009 is on the 12th of April and for the following 5 years are as follows;
a] 2010- 4 April
b] 2011- 24 April
c] 2012- 8 April
d] 2013- 31 March
e] 2014- 20 April.

So Easter is special and nomatter when it comes or how we celebrate it, there is meaning and
Symbolic of life.