Easter 2018: Date, Importance And Significance, When Is Easter 2018

However, Easter did not always symbolise Christ’s resurrection from the dead. Its meaning was quite different than what Christians observe today. The feast day of Easter was originally a pagan celebration of renewal and rebirth. Celebrated in the early spring, it honoured the pagan Saxon goddess Eastre. When the early missionaries converted the Saxons to Christianity, the holiday, since it fell around the same time as the traditional memorial of Christ’s resurrection from the dead, was merged with the pagan celebration, and became known as Easter. The meaning of Easter was also changed to reflect its new Christian orientation.

History of Easter

According to the New Testament, Christ was arrested by the Roman authorities, essentially because he claimed to be the “Son of God.”

He was sentenced to death by Pontius Pilate, a Roman prefect, at the behest of the Pharisees (the priests of Israel). The day of the crucifixion is called Good Friday. In varying ways, all four of the gospels in the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) state that those who believe in Jesus’ death and resurrection are given “the gift of eternal life,” meaning that those of faith will be welcomed into the “Kingdom of Heaven” upon their earthly death.