When? In the year 325, the Roman Catholic Council established the date for Easter. They decided that it should be observed the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox. Easter is at the earliest March 22^nd and at the latest April 25^th. This date is the same for both the Roman Catholics and Protestants. (The Protestants are people who separated from the Roman Catholic Church, a movement called the "Reformation", which started in the 16^th century with Martin Luther in Germany.)

Easter is a yearly celebration for all Christians commemorating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Although not the most celebrated holiday by all Christians, it is the most sacred one.

The Bible contains four versions of the events of Easter Sunday and of the previous days leading up to it. Here are the main events:

The day before his crucifixion, Jesus had a Last Supper with his disciples. The disciples were twelve men who always followed Jesus, regarding themselves as his students. At that Last Supper, Jesus washed their feet, shared bread and wine with them, and announced his upcoming death. He declared that someone at the supper table would tell of his location so that he could be arrested. That happened shortly after. The disciple named Judas had gone and told of his location after the supper.

The next day, called Good Friday, Jesus was judged and sentenced to death by crucifixion. If it is so negative, then why is it called Good Friday in English? It comes from God’s Friday! Most other languages call that Friday Holy Friday. After his death, Jesus was placed in a tomb, a hole in a rock with another rock in front of the hole to close it. The Romans placed guards in that area, afraid that Jesus’ followers who were upset by his death would disturb the peace.

On the Sunday morning, Easter Sunday, the guards were found asleep and the tomb empty. Some people later claimed to have seen and spoken with Jesus’ ghost. It is believed that after that, he rose to heaven to be with God.

The Jews who followed Jesus Christ’s preachings became the first Christians.

In the United States, there are many ways to celebrate Easter. It depends mostly on the traditions of someone’s ancestors and of which European country they came from. But usually, families get together for a special meal. Unlike Thanksgiving, there are few common dishes.

People often decorate their houses with things that represent new life. This includes eggs, lambs, bunnies, and spring flowers. They may have a bouquet of lilies. A lily (or if many lilies) is a flower which represents death. They like to eat sweets that day but especially CHOCOLATE!

In Italy, a priest blesses the eggs that the hostess will place in the middle of the table. She then places the dishes all around them for the special family Easter meal.

In Australia, Good Friday is the only day of the year when ALL the stores are closed. On Easter Sunday, the children search for eggs hidden in the gardens. A fictive character called the Easter Bunny hides the eggs there.

In Mexico, the night before Easter, thousands of people go down in the streets. They beat, hang, or burn symbolic images of Judas for betraying Jesus. Piñatas representing Judas are hit until they release sweets. A Piñata is something made out of papier mâché, usually in the shape of an animal and painted in bright colors. Papier mâché is the process of using pieces of paper, dipping them into a mixture of flour and water (which makes glue), and gluing them to a shaped structure. Candies are put inside before. People hit the piñata with sticks until it breaks and releases the candy.

In Armenia and Syria, the priests invite the poorest people to enter their churches. The priests wash their feet and give them gifts.

In Ireland, as the sun rises on Easter Sunday, people eat eggs and later dance to earn delicious cakes.

In Bulgaria, a day or two before Easter, Christian families have a tradition of sending a loaf of bread and 10 to 15 eggs, painted red, to their Turkish friends who usually feel honored to receive them. The person who brings them these gifts is usually given a bit of money in exchange.

About Easter eggs… The tradition of offering decorated eggs comes from long before Christians. The egg is without a doubt the oldest symbol of life and of new beginnings. Many rituals have been associated to them since the beginning of times.

The Egyptians and Persians used to offer decorated eggs for spring as a symbol of new beginnings and life.

In Antiquity, the druids thought that rocks in the shape of eggs had marvelous qualities. They thought they were made out of snakes’ spits! The tradition was to color eggs in red or blue, and with colorful lines and to offer them to relatives, friends, and neighbors.

People in the Ukraine have always decorated and offered each other beautifully decorated eggs. Once decorated, a Ukrainian egg is called a pysanky. Pysankies are true objects of art.