Write an article based on this "Understand the liturgical seasons of Lent and Easter. Realize the importance of Easter Sunday for Christians. Recognize the pagan background of Easter."
Easter Sunday is the day when Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter marks the completion of Lent, which is a 40-day period of prayer, penance and fasting. The last week of Lent, which is the week before Easter, is often referred to as Holy Week. During this week, Christians observe Palm Sunday, which marks Jesus' return to Jerusalem; Holy Thursday, which is when Jesus held his last supper with his disciples; and Good Friday, which is when Jesus was crucified. Recognize that Easter Sunday begins the Easter Season. Easter Sunday begins a new liturgical season, referred to as Eastertide or the Easter Season. This season last 50 days and ends on Pentecost Sunday, which is when Christians celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundation of the Christian faith. Therefore, Easter Sunday is a holy day for Christians. Many Christians view Easter Sunday as a day of new birth. The word Easter has its roots in "Eastre," which was the name of the Teutonic goddess of spring. Easter was originally a pagan festival that celebrated the beginning of Spring. The festival focused on fertility, and utilized the egg and the rabbit as symbols of the celebration. Early Christians adopted the pagan festival of Easter as a time to celebrate the risen Christ, rather than the goddess of Spring. Today, the vernal equinox still determines the date for Easter. In most Western countries, Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday following the vernal equinox, which is typically between March 22 and April 25.