394_4-2012.pdf

Easter Time And It’s On Easter weekend those of the Christian faith (Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants, Anglicans, Baptists...) celebrate the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In the past, the Easter Sunday was generally reserved for the baptism of a large number of catechumens.

Also, the council of Lateran (1215) ordered that those who reached the age of reason had to take the Holy communion at least once a year (in French "faire ses Pâques"). So Easter is the most important Christian celebration of the year.

In Romance languages, Pâques or Pascua... is derived from the Greek word "Pascha". In the Germanic languages, "Easter" - also called "Pascha" - was taken from "Eastre", the Saxon goddess associated to the Spring. Indeed, many years ago, the Saxons celebrated the god of the Spring, called "Eostre" and held festivals every year to celebrate the Spring Equinox, when the day and the night were equal length.

These festivals were celebrated to ensure fertility across both the land and people. The Saxons converted to Christianity and the name of their celebration became "Easter" in order to celebrate both the Spring and the religious Pascha times. The idea behind the two occasions is different, but they share common symbols and traditions that people still use today.

Briefly explained, the Christian Easter occurs as follows: the first Sunday after the full moon that follows the spring equinox (according to the Gregorian calendar). Except for the Orthodox church that still refers to the Julian Calendar (13 days behind the Gregorian calendar).

So Easter is a mobile holiday that oscillates between March 22nd and April 25th. Regarding Easter Monday,