In Christianity, Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Here’s what to know about the history of the holy day and how people celebrate.
Easter is just a hop around the corner – with millions of people around the world are preparing to celebrate this Sunday.
The Christian holiday commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. While traditions and religious rituals for Easter vary among denominations and across the globe, many Christians observe the holiday through church services and prayer.
Meanwhile, others may also be anticipating a visit from a magical Easter Bunny – or preparing for a weekend full of colorful eggs, baskets of chocolate and more.
Here are some key facts about the history of Easter and how people commemorate the day.
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Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, three days after he was crucified by Romans around 30 A.D.
“Easter’s roots (date back to) a day in the week in which Christ rose from the dead. It would have been the first day of the week after the Jewish Sabbath, which was Saturday,” Timothy P. O’Malley, a faculty member at the University of Notre Dame’s McGrath Institute for Church Life, told USA TODAY.
“Early Christians celebrated, therefore, every Sunday like it was Easter. There was no annual commemoration of Easter early on, but by the second and third centuries, there comes to be an annual celebration of Easter,” O’Malley continued, adding that the celebration later grew.
Easter marks the last day of the Holy Week, which consists of several days that each carry their own significance. These include:
Palm Sunday: commemorating when Jesus entered Jerusalem
Holy Thursday: commemorating the Last Supper and washing of feet
Good Friday: commemorating Jesus’ crucifixion and death
Easter Sunday: commemorating the resurrection of Jesus
Photos: Holy week celebrated by Christians around the world
Easter mass is one of the longest sessions of the Catholic mass.
