May I wish all my regular blog readers a Happy Easter, regardless of whether or not they are Christian. Most belief systems have some sort of rite which celebrates the coming of spring and/or the beginning of a new year, and my best wishes are extended to all of you in a spirit of welcoming what we hope will be better times ahead.
The modern English word Easter seems to have its origin from pre-Christian times when, during April, feasts were held to celebrate the goddess Ēostre, the goddess of the dawn. In the non-English-speaking world the word Pascha is used instead. This seems to have been derived from the Aramaic word פסחא, which is also used to denote the Jewish festival known in English as Passover.
The date of Easter currently varies from year to year and whether or not it is being calculated by Western or Eastern/Orthodox Christian churches. Recently Justin Welby – the Archbishop of Canterbury – has agreed with the idea put forward by the Catholic and Coptic popes and the Ecumenical Patriarch of the Orthodox Church that a specific Sunday should be identified as Easter Sunday. Whether or not this will ever come about is a moot point ... but it is interesting that such an idea is actively being discussed.
The modern English word Easter seems to have its origin from pre-Christian times when, during April, feasts were held to celebrate the goddess Ēostre, the goddess of the dawn. In the non-English-speaking world the word Pascha is used instead. This seems to have been derived from the Aramaic word פסחא, which is also used to denote the Jewish festival known in English as Passover.
The date of Easter currently varies from year to year and whether or not it is being calculated by Western or Eastern/Orthodox Christian churches. Recently Justin Welby – the Archbishop of Canterbury – has agreed with the idea put forward by the Catholic and Coptic popes and the Ecumenical Patriarch of the Orthodox Church that a specific Sunday should be identified as Easter Sunday. Whether or not this will ever come about is a moot point ... but it is interesting that such an idea is actively being discussed.
Happy Easter!
ReplyDeleteTradgardmastare,
DeleteAnd a Happy Easter to you as well!
All the best,
Bob
Happy Easter!
ReplyDeleteChrist is risen!
Conrad Kinch,
DeleteAnd a Happy Easter to you and your family!
All the best,
Bob
A happy Easter to you.
ReplyDeleteI actually like the variability of the date of Easter so hope that the proposal you mention will come to nought. I can see practical advantages but am happy to forgo them and keep a bit of irregularity in the world (plus a lot of the "pro fix" arguments I've seen seem to be about bowing down to the demands of commerce and we already do too much of this).
It's not something I'd go to the barricades about but I might sign a petition ...
Mike Hall,
DeleteAnd a Happy Easter to you as well!
When I was a teacher/lecturer, having a movable Easter was a nightmare as it meant that the length of the second and third terms each year were never the same. Now that I am retired, I don't care when Easter is ... except when my wife and I are booking a cruise, as the price always goes up during the school holidays!
All the best,
Bob
Happy Easter!
ReplyDeletePeter Ball,
DeleteAnd a Happy Easter to you as well!
All the best,
Bob
Since Christmas is a few days after the winter solstice, when it becomes noticeable that the days are getting longer, and Easter came after the Spring Equinox (at least this year) I would be willing to celebrate Easter with the Equinox.
ReplyDeleteMr. Pavone,
DeleteFixing Easter at the spring equinox makes good sense, and would make life a lot easier for a lot of people.
All the best,
Bob
Happy Easter, Robert! He is Risen indeed!
ReplyDeleteEaster is set as the first Sunday after the first Full Moon after the vernal equinox. This is both tied to how Passover is set (for obvious reasons), and it also means there can never be an eclipse of the sun on Easter Sunday, something that was perhaps of some importance in superstitious times in the early centuries of the Church!
Gonsalvo,
DeleteAnd a Happy Easter to you as well!
Thank you for your explanation. I had no idea how the date of Easter Sunday was calculated ... and your comment about making sure that there is no eclipse at Easter makes great sense,
All the best,
Bob
Happy Easter to you as well. Now if they could find a way to legislate the arrival of spring weather.....THAT would be something.
ReplyDeleteRoss Mac,
DeleteIt may be Spring ... but the weather has yet to match the season here as well. The forecast for tonight is 70 mph winds and up to 1-inch/25mm of rain.
All the best,
Bob
Happy Easter BOB - from Australia! Cheers. KEV.
ReplyDeleteKev,
DeleteAnd a Happy Easter to you as well ... although I suspect that yours might be almost over by now!
All the best,
Bob