According to History.com, Easter Sunday, which celebrates Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead, is called a moveable feast because it doesn't fall on a set date every year, as most holidays do. Instead, Christian churches in the West celebrate Easter on the first Sunday following the full moon after the vernal equinox on March 21, anywhere between March 22 and April 25.
Orthodox Christians use the Julian calendar to calculate when Easter will occur and usually celebrate the holiday a week or two after the Western churches, which follow the Gregorian calendar.
Easter is an entire season of the Christian church year, rather than a single-day observance.
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Lent, the 40-day period leading up to Easter Sunday, is a time of reflection and penance and represents the 40 days that Jesus spent alone in the wilderness before starting his ministry, a time in which Christians believe he survived various temptations by the devil.
The day before Lent—Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday—is a celebration of food and fun before the fasting begins.
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The week before Easter Sunday is called Holy Week and includes Maundy Thursday, which commemorates Jesus' last supper with his disciples; Good Friday, which honors the day of his crucifixion; and Holy Saturday, which focuses on the transition between the crucifixion and resurrection.
The 50-day period following Easter Sunday is Eastertide, which celebrates Jesus' ascension into heaven.
Source: History.com
Check out our events calendar to find Easter services in Land O' Lakes.
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