When Is Easter 2017: Dates, Facts About Easter Worldwide

By Amee Florence Payno, Christian Post Contributor Friday, April 07, 2017

It's almost that time of the year again during which chocolate eggs are the hottest commodity for kids and adults alike, as Easter is just around the corner.

For this year, the Easter holiday is set to fall in the middle of April, a few weeks later than it was celebrated last year in late March. It falls on Sunday, April 16, which means Good Friday will be on April 14, and Easter Monday will fall on April 17.

Although Easter is usually associated with egg hunting and eating a lot of chocolate, this public holiday is a huge celebration for Christians because not only is it the day that Jesus is said to have risen from the dead, but His return supposedly serves as proof of an afterlife.

It is not exactly stated in the Bible that the resurrection of Jesus Christ should be referred to as "Easter," and so the name of the celebration is believed to have been decided on much later.

Some believe that the name "Easter" dates back from Pagan times when people worshipped "Eastra," the goddess of fertility and spring. On the other hand, there are those who believe that the word dates as far back as the Frankish church that celebrated the "alba" or sunrise when they honored the resurrection of Jesus Christ, a word that translates to "Ostern" in German. This world is believed to have evolved into "Easter."

Christians have various ways of celebrating the Easter holiday, but they are likely to attend an Easter sermon, eat a sumptuous meal with the family, and give or receive chocolate eggs.

Eggs are very popular during Easter because it symbolizes new life, especially the life given to Jesus when He was resurrected. An egg's shape resembles a tomb, while a cracked egg symbolizes the empty tomb of Jesus.

Eating eggs, however, was forbidden during the Holy Week, and so they were saved, decorated and gifted to children instead. Then, in the 19th century, the first chocolate eggs surfaced in Germany and France, and the tradition has carried on since then.