Easter

Spring is the time for revitalization and rejuvenation, seen in the budding of the trees and bushes; a time for the lengthening of the days after the short, dark days of winter (for the northern hemisphere at least). Also, this time of year, after the 21st of March and until the 25th of April, is of major importance to the Christian church—it is Easter time. For children, it is a time for rolling hardboiled and gaudily painted eggs down the hill, and receiving chocolate eggs.

According to the OED, 'Easter' is defined thus:

One of the great festivals of the Christian Church, commemorating the resurrection of Christ, and corresponding to the Jewish passover, the name of which it bears in most of the European langs. According to the modern rule it is observed on the first Sunday after the calendar full moon—i.e. 'not the actual full moon, but the 14th day of the calendar moon' (Bp. Butcher)—which happens on or next after 21 March. In ordinary language Easter is often applied to the entire week commencing with Easter Sunday.

Etymologically, 'Easter' is derived from Old English. Germanic in origin, it is related to the German Ostern and the English east. Bede describes the word as being derived from Eastre, the name of a goddess associated with spring.

Similarly, Easter is closely associated with Lent, the period of 40 weekdays prior to Easter Sunday devoted to fasting, abstinence, and penitence, to commemorate Christ's time in the wilderness. Lent is an abbreviation of the Middle English word, lenten, which appears related to the Old English word for 'long', lencten, possibly referencing the lengthening of the day in spring.

So, apart from the theological connotations, Easter is a time for the spring, for renewal; a link, perhaps, to the old superstition of wearing new clothes on Easter Sunday to avoid bad luck.

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