The Origins and Interfaith Connections of Easter
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Every spring, millions of Christians around the world celebrate the festival known as Easter. It is regarded as one of the most significant religious events in Christianity. Churches hold special services, families gather for meals, and symbols such as eggs, rabbits, and flowers appear widely in cultural celebrations. Yet many people remain unfamiliar with the historical origins of Easter, how it developed, and how it relates to other religious traditions.
What is Easter?
Easter is a Christian festival commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, which Christians believe occurred three days after his crucifixion. Although the festival itself is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, for Christians, Easter represents hope, renewal, and salvation. It concludes a period of fasting and reflection known as Lent, which lasts about forty days and commemorates the time Jesus (as) is believed to have spent fasting in the wilderness. This is similar to the Islamic concept of fasting during the month of Ramadan in order to gain nearness to Allah and gain a deeper understanding of spirituality, service and oneself. [i]
When Does Easter Occur?
Unlike many religious festivals with fixed dates, Easter is a movable festival, much like the Islamic festival of Eid, the date of which also changes from year to year according to the lunar calendar. Easter’s date is determined by a combination of solar and lunar calculations. Traditionally, Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox (around 21st March). As a result, Easter can fall on any Sunday between 22 March and 25 April. This method for calculating the date was formalised during the early centuries of Christianity. In 325 CE, the Council of Nicaea (the first major gathering of Christian bishops) decreed that Easter should be celebrated on a Sunday following the spring full moon. This decision aimed to unify different Christian communities that had previously celebrated the festival on different dates. [ii]
Historical Origins of Easter
The earliest recorded celebrations of Easter date back to the second century CE. The word “Easter” itself has an uncertain origin. The 8th-century English monk Bede suggested that the term derived from “Eostre,” an Anglo-Saxon goddess associated with spring. According to this view, a pre-Christian spring festival may have influenced the name used in English-speaking regions. However, many scholars dispute this explanation due to limited historical evidence. Another theory suggests that the word may come from Latin phrases related to early Christian Easter week, which were later misinterpreted in Germanic languages. In many languages, the festival is not called Easter but some variant of the Latin “Pascha,” from Hebrew “Pesach”, which is the word for the Jewish festival of Passover. This reflects the historical connection between Easter and the Jewish celebration commemorating the Israelites’ deliverance from Egypt. [iii]
The Relationship with Judaism
Easter is historically linked to the Jewish festival of Passover. According to the New Testament, the crucifixion of Jesus (as) took place during Passover in Jerusalem. Early Christians therefore associated the resurrection with this Jewish festival. Some early Christian communities celebrated Easter on the same date as Passover, while others insisted it must always occur on a Sunday. This disagreement, known as the “Paschal controversy,” continued until church authorities standardised the Sunday celebration in the fourth century. Thus, Easter emerged partly from the early Christian reinterpretation of Passover traditions. [iv]
Traditions and Symbols
Over time, various cultural traditions became associated with Easter. Some of the most well-known include Easter eggs, rabbits, and festive meals. Eggs have long symbolised new life and renewal. In Christian symbolism, they came to represent the resurrection of Christ. The tradition of decorating eggs and giving them as gifts spread across Europe during the Middle Ages. The Easter bunny, another popular symbol, developed later in European folklore and eventually became part of modern celebrations, particularly for children. It is important to note that many of these cultural customs are not rooted directly in biblical teachings but developed gradually through regional traditions. [v]
Comparison with Judaism and Islam
Judaism celebrates Passover, which commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery under the leadership of Moses (as). While Passover influenced the historical timing of Easter, the two festivals carry distinct theological meanings.
Islam holds great reverence for Jesus (as), recognising him as a noble prophet of God. However, mainstream Muslims differ significantly from Christians in their understanding of the events surrounding the crucifixion, believing that someone else was placed on the cross instead of Jesus (as), who was saved by being physically lifted to heaven. According to the Qur’an and the interpretations of the relevant verses (4:158-159) by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community – which upholds the true and original teachings of Islam – Jesus (as) was in fact placed on the cross but did not die from crucifixion; rather, he survived being placed on the cross and went on to live a full life and died a natural death at the age of 120 years.
The founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) – who claimed to be the awaited latter day Messiah and spiritual second coming of Jesus (as) – explained in detail in his book ‘Jesus in India’, that Jesus (as) survived the crucifixion and later travelled east in search of the lost tribes, eventually passing away from a natural death. Rather than a physical ascension, the Promised Messiah (as) explained that the Qur’an speaks of the spiritual ascension of Jesus (as). [vi]
While it may not commemorate the Easter holiday, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community emphasises interfaith understanding and respect for the beliefs and practices of others. Easter can, therefore, serve as an opportunity for dialogue between Muslims and Christians and indeed followers of all faiths about shared spiritual values such as sacrifice, faith, and devotion to God. [vii]
About the author: Faiza Kiran is a published poet and author whose writing reflects a deep engagement with contemporary global realities. She is currently a doctoral candidate in Education, researching creative writing pedagogy in secondary schools in England, with a particular interest in nurturing creativity, reflection, and meaningful expression among young learners.
Endnotes
[i] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Easter-holiday
[ii] https://time.com/7278893/why-easter-always-sunday/
[iii] https://www.christianity.com/newsletters/features/undertanding-the-history-and-symbols-of-easter-1256039.html
[iv] https://www.christianity.com/newsletters/features/undertanding-the-history-and-symbols-of-easter-1256039.html
[v] https://www.christianity.com/newsletters/features/undertanding-the-history-and-symbols-of-easter-1256039.html
[vi] https://files.alislam.cloud/pdf/Jesus-in-India.pdf
[vii] https://www.alislam.org/video/celebration-of-easter-truth-behind-it/
