Q: Is Easter in the Bible?
A: Every spring, many Christians celebrate Easter with chocolate, eggs, and rabbits—but is it from the Bible?
The word “Easter” comes from Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon name of a Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility. Her festival was celebrated around the time of the vernal equinox, which falls in early spring. Traditions associated with this festival remain today in the idea of the Easter rabbit, a symbol of fertility, and decorated eggs, which represent new life.
Easter is celebrated on the Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox. The Easter rabbit and eggs are commonly associated with this tradition and developed later as seasonal symbols rather than teachings found in the Bible. The idea of eggs as symbols of new life has appeared in various ancient cultures.
Today, Easter is commonly associated with the resurrection of Jesus. However, as seen above, many of the customs connected to it—such as eggs, rabbits, and seasonal symbolism—developed separately from the biblical account of His resurrection. The Resurrection Day is kept differently. It is also called the Day of Firstfruits (Leviticus 23:4–14) and falls on the Sunday after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is the same day Jesus rose from the dead.
“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
“When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week …”
The disciples commemorated the Resurrection Day by breaking bread because through breaking bread they recognized Jesus after He had risen.
“Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus … When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him.”
