Easter on the 3rd day

In many ancient pagan cultures, spring celebrates light, the rebirth of nature after the long winter months, which is sometimes symbolized by the return or awakening of a deity. In the Middle East, like their Canaanite ancestors, the Hebrews and their Babylonian neighbors, Mesopotamians gave to their gods the firstfruits of their harvest.

In Western Europe in Antiquity, cults of Greco-Roman origin overlapped with Celtic beliefs around the resurrection of nature after winter and the equinox.

In 725 in Great Britain, Bede the Venerable mentions the goddess Éostre who symbolizes renewal and announces spring. Rites were given in his honor at this time of the year. The English and German names Easter, Easter and Ostern are said to be derived from its name, which like "dawn" means "rising in the east".

The Christian holiday has its roots in the Jewish Passover (Pessa'h) which commemorates the exodus of the Hebrew people from Egypt. For Christians, who recognize Jesus as the Messiah, Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus, three days after the Last Supper (celebrated on Maundy Thursday), the last meal he took with his disciples on Passover the day before his Passion (celebrated on Palm Sunday and Good Friday), according to the New Testament. By his death and resurrection, Christ, son of God, redeems man and extirpates him from the slavery of evil and sin (mystery of redemption). The meaning of Easter is the victory of life over death.

The date was set by the Council of Nicea on the first Sunday after the first full moon following March 21. Western Churches, which have adopted the Gregorian calendar, often celebrate Easter on a different date than Orthodox Churches, which still refer to the Julian calendar. The delay can be up to five weeks depending on the year.