Where did the word EASTER come from?

 Feb 14, 2018    Have you ever wondered where the word Easter came from?

Just as there are many denominational traditions surrounding the celebration of Easter, there are many stories and legends surrounding the origin of the word Easter. To some, it is the celebration of spring; for others it is a day to remember deliverance; for many it is the celebration of a new life in Christ.   More important than the question of how the word Easter originated is, what it means to us today.  When you think of the word Easter, what do you see?  If you see bunnies and baskets of chocolate eggs, you are missing out on the richness of this season in our liturgical year, considered by many Christians to be even more significant than Christmas.  Easter, to Christians, is actually Resurrection Day, the day Jesus rose in triumph from the grave, claiming victory over death. Because He lives, so can you and I and it is through a simple faith in Him. The events that led up to the crucifixion of Christ were not yet historical facts nor did they have their names yet, because the early followers were living out the actual events of the day as they happened.  They were in fact living the Easter story.  After the death and resurrection of Jesus the events became part of our Church history.  A name was needed to signify the season and so it was eventually called Easter.  The day Jesus was actually crucified would eventually get a label also, and so we observe it as Good Friday.  Good Friday and Easter Sunday became part of the Christian tradition and its history.  In 325, the Council of Nicea discussed a 40-day Lenten season of fasting, self-examination and penitence.  This 40 days would demonstrate self-denial in preparation for Easter.  As in all religious traditions some would take fasting and penitence it to the extreme.  Growing up Anglican I would receive a small pyramid shaped box on the first Sunday of Lent and was to give up something during the 40 days.  For me it was penny candy and I was to take my pennies and fill the box and turn it back to the church as my Lenten offering.   I have to admit that the candy always seemed to dominate my pennies and so my Nan would fill the pyramid box before East Sunday morning and save the family from the embarrassment of a ¼ or ½ empty pyramid. 

Lent is one of the oldest observations on the Christian calendar. Like all Christian holy days it has changed over the years, but its purpose has always remained the same: It is a time of self-examination and reflection, a checkup if you will, on how your walk with Christ is going.  It is a time to study and be very conscious concerning what Jesus has done for you personally.  In fact for the Christian it should be the most important season of the year, more important than Christmas because it is trusting by faith what you have learned from His birth to death.  The 40 days would not include Sundays and would end on the day of crucifixion, Good Friday as we now call it.   The church also needed a starting point for the 40 day period.  Again a name was chosen and it would be celebrated on the Wednesday just before the first Lenten Sunday and they called it “ASH WEDNEDSAY”.   Because the original Christian Church was established by Rome, many, even to this very day, believe that Ash Wednesday and Lent belong to the Catholic and Anglican traditions.  It used to be true that Catholics and Anglicans made up the lion’s share of people celebrating Ash Wednesday and Lent, but today, most “liturgical churches”  meaning those who follow the calendar-based  lectionary year, include the seasons of Advent, before Christmas and Lent before Easter Sunday.  Some evangelical denominations have even begun the tradition of Ash Wednesday and Lent.   The ash is used as a reminder that our time here is short and that we came from the dust of the earth and there we will return.  The 40 days of lent is for personal reflection, repentance, and a new starting point if that is necessary in your relationship with Christ.  To reflect on what Jesus’ life and death really means to you personally.  As we come to the two stations tonight, let us remember our mortality with the mark of the ash.  At the table of bread and wine let us ponder what Jesus has done for you.