Our first meeting of the group was at St. Wilfrid’s Barn, Old Arley on the 13th April 2026
As the Study Books for the Easter topic did not arrive in time, I produced the list below as a talking point for our first meeting.
Facts about Easter
Easter is the central Christian celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but it’s also a holiday layered with history, symbolism, and cultural traditions. Here are the most meaningful, well‑grounded facts about Christian Easter, organized so you can see both the spiritual core and the wider cultural evolution.
Core Christian Facts
- Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus, believed to have occurred on the third day after his crucifixion. This event is considered the foundation of Christian faith.
- It is the oldest and most important Christian festival, predating Christmas as a formal celebration. Early Christians were commemorating the resurrection as early as the 2nd century.
- Easter concludes the 40‑day season of Lent, a period of fasting, prayer, and repentance. The final week—Holy Week—includes Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.
- Jesus’ resurrection is presented as physical, not symbolic, in Christian scripture—his followers are described as seeing and touching him after he rose.
- How the Date Is Determined Easter is a movable feast, meaning its date changes every year.
- The Council of Nicaea (325 AD) set the rule: Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox (March 21). This places Easter between March 22 and April 25.
- Eastern Orthodox churches calculate the date using the Julian calendar, so their Easter often falls later.
Jewish Roots
- Easter is closely connected to Passover, the Jewish festival during which Jesus was crucified.
- The New Testament frames Jesus as the Passover lamb, linking his death to themes of sacrifice and liberation.
Symbols and Traditions (and Their Origins)
- Eggs symbolize new life and resurrection. This symbolism predates Christianity but was adopted into Easter as a sign of Jesus emerging from the tomb.
- The Easter Bunny originated in 17th‑century Germany as a symbol of fertility and spring. German immigrants later brought the tradition to America.
- Eastertide, the season following Easter Sunday, lasts 50 days and ends at Pentecost in Western Christianity.
Cultural and Linguistic Notes
- The English word “Easter” likely comes from Eostre, an Anglo‑Saxon spring goddess—showing how Christian and older seasonal traditions blended.
- Many other languages use forms of “Pascha”, derived from the Hebrew Pesach (Passover), emphasizing the holiday’s biblical roots.
Christ and His disciples at the first Easter is really the turning point of the entire Christian story. The short version: Easter begins not with celebration, but with shock, fear, and then overwhelming joy as the disciples encounter the risen Jesus.
The Core Moment
The essential takeaway is that the first Easter is the moment the disciples move from despair to conviction. They go from hiding in fear after the crucifixion to becoming witnesses of what they believed was Jesus’ resurrection.
🕊️ What Happened on the First Easter
Early Morning: The Empty Tomb
According to the Gospels (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20):
- Women followers—Mary Magdalene most prominently—visit Jesus’ tomb at dawn.
- They find the stone rolled away and the tomb empty.
- They encounter an angelic message: “He is not here; he has risen.”
- Mary Magdalene becomes the first to see the risen Jesus.
This is significant: the first Easter proclamation comes from women, which was socially unexpected in the 1st century.
The Disciples’ Shock and Confusion
The male disciples initially don’t believe the women’s report. Peter and John run to the tomb and find it empty, but they still don’t fully understand.
This is a very human moment:
- grief
- disbelief
- hope trying to break through
Jesus Appears to His Followers
Throughout the day, the Gospels describe several appearances:
- To Mary Magdalene in the garden
- To two disciples on the road to Emmaus, who only recognise Him when He breaks bread
- To the gathered disciples (except Thomas) behind locked doors
- Later to Thomas, who had doubted until he saw Jesus himself
These encounters are intimate, personal, and transformative.
The Disciples’ Transformation
By the end of that first Easter day:
- Fear turns into courage
- Confusion becomes conviction
- A scattered group becomes a unified movement
This shift is what fuels the entire early Christian mission.
Why the First Easter Matters Historically
Even outside religious belief, historians note:
- The disciples’ sudden boldness after Easter is one of the most striking features of early Christianity.
- Something happened that convinced them Jesus was alive, even at the cost of persecution.
- Easter becomes the foundation of Christian identity, worship, and theology.
Our next meeting will be on the 27th April at 7pm for 7.30 at the St. Laurance’s Church Annexe. Ansley.
God’s blessing
Dave