Easter Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! == Etymology == {{main|Ēostre|Names of Easter}} The modern English term ''Easter'', [[cognate]] with modern [[Dutch language|Dutch]] {{lang|nl|ooster}} and [[German language|German]] {{lang|de|Ostern}}, developed from an [[Old English language|Old English]] word that usually appears in the form {{lang|ang|Ēastrun}}, {{lang|ang|Ēastron}}, or {{lang|ang|Ēastran}}; but also as {{lang|ang|Ēastru}}, {{lang|ang|Ēastro}}; and {{lang|ang|Ēastre}} or {{lang|ang|Ēostre}}.<ref group="nb">{{IPA-ang|ˈæːɑstre, ˈeːostre}}</ref> [[Bede]] provides the only documentary source for the etymology of the word, in his eighth-century ''[[The Reckoning of Time]]''. He wrote that {{lang|ang|Ēosturmōnaþ}} (Old English for 'Month of Ēostre', translated in [[Bede]]'s time as "Paschal month") was an English month, corresponding to April, which he says "was once called after a [[List of Germanic deities|goddess]] of theirs named [[Ēostre]], in whose honour feasts were celebrated in that month".<ref>{{cite book|last=Wallis|first=Faith|title=Bede: The Reckoning of Time|date=1999 |publisher=Liverpool University Press|isbn=0853236933|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=yFsw-Vaup6sC&pg=PA53 54]|title-link=The Reckoning of Time}}</ref> In Latin and Greek, the Christian celebration was, and still is, called {{transliteration|grc|Pascha}} (Greek: {{lang|grc|Πάσχα}}), a word derived from [[Aramaic]] {{lang|arc|פסחא}} ({{transliteration|arc|Paskha}}), cognate to the Hebrew {{lang|hbo|{{Script/Hebrew|פֶּסַח}}}} ({{transliteration|hbo|Pesach}}). The word originally denoted the Jewish festival known in English as [[Passover]], commemorating the [[the Exodus|Jewish Exodus from slavery in Egypt]].<ref name="HC">{{cite web | url=http://www.history.com/topics/history-of-easter/videos#history-of-the-holidays-easter-video | title=History of Easter | publisher=A&E Television Networks | work=The History Channel website | access-date=9 March 2013 | archive-date=31 May 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531191802/http://www.history.com/topics/history-of-easter/videos#history-of-the-holidays-easter-video | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=PB-zfFmR0I0C&pg=PA21|title = The Antenicene Pascha: A Rhetorical History|author = Karl Gerlach|publisher = Peeters Publishers|quote = The second century equivalent of easter and the paschal Triduum was called by both Greek and Latin writers "Pascha (πάσχα)", a Greek transliteration of the Aramaic form of the Hebrew פֶּסַח, the Passover feast of Ex. 12.|page = xviii|date=1998 |isbn = 978-9042905702|access-date = 9 January 2020|archive-date = 8 August 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210808003356/https://books.google.com/books?id=PB-zfFmR0I0C&pg=PA21|url-status = live}}</ref> As early as the 50s of the 1st century, [[Paul the Apostle]], writing from [[Ephesus]] to the Christians in [[Ancient Corinth|Corinth]],<ref>{{bibleverse|1 Corinthians|5:7}}</ref> applied the term to Christ, and it is unlikely that the [[Early Christianity|Ephesian and Corinthian Christians]] were the first to hear Exodus 12 interpreted as speaking about the [[Crucifixion of Jesus|death of Jesus]], not just about the Jewish Passover ritual.<ref>{{cite book|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=PB-zfFmR0I0C&q=%22Pascha%22+name&pg=PA21|title = The Antenicene Pascha: A Rhetorical History|author = Karl Gerlach|publisher = Peters Publishers|quote = For while it is from Ephesus that Paul writes, "Christ our Pascha has been sacrificed for us," Ephesian Christians were not likely the first to hear that Ex 12 did not speak about the rituals of Pesach, but the death of Jesus of Nazareth.|page = 21|date=1998 |isbn = 978-9042905702|access-date = 17 October 2020|archive-date = 28 December 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211228004322/https://books.google.com/books?id=PB-zfFmR0I0C&q=%22Pascha%22+name&pg=PA21|url-status = live}}</ref> In most languages, the feast is known by names derived from the Greek and Latin {{transliteration|grc|Pascha}}.<ref name="Etymology"/><ref name="Passover"/> Pascha is also a name by which Jesus himself is remembered in the Orthodox Church, especially in connection with his resurrection and with the season of its celebration.<ref>Orthros of Holy Pascha, Stichera: "Today the sacred Pascha is revealed to us. The new and holy Pascha, the mystical Pascha. The all-venerable Pascha. The Pascha which is Christ the Redeemer. The spotless Pascha. The great Pascha. The Pascha of the faithful. The Pascha which has opened unto us the gates of Paradise. The Pascha which sanctifies all faithful."</ref> Others call the holiday "Resurrection Sunday" or "Resurrection Day", after the Greek {{lang-grc|Ἀνάστασις|Anastasis|Resurrection|label=none}} day.<ref name="GammanBindon2014" /><ref name="BodaSmith2006" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.simplycatholic.com/easter-or-resurrection-day/|publisher=Simply Catholic|title=Easter or Resurrection day?|date=17 January 2019|access-date=4 April 2021|archive-date=8 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608184717/https://www.simplycatholic.com/easter-or-resurrection-day/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/easter-facts-about-resurrection-sunday.html|publisher=Christian Post|title=Easter: 5 facts you need to know about resurrection sunday|date=1 April 2018|access-date=4 April 2021|archive-date=22 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122123930/https://www.christianpost.com/news/easter-facts-about-resurrection-sunday.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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