ihadagreatEasterholidaythisyear.Onthefirstdayoftheholiday
easterisnotonlyaholidaybutaseasonuntoitself.tomanyreligiouspeople,itmarksatimeofmiraclesandareaffirmingoffaith.tothosewithamoresecularviewoftheworld,itisacelebrationoftheendofwinter,atimetolooktowardthewarmthofthecomingsummerandachancetoshedtheheavyclothingofthewinterforthebrightcolorsofspring.
thedateofeaster
goddessofthespring
easterisamovableholiday,whichiscalculatedasthefirstsundayafterthefullmoonthatoccursonorafterthevernalequinox.ifthefullmoonfallsonasunday,theneasteristhefollowingsunday.theholidaycanoccuranywherebetweenmarch22andapril25.thisyeareasterisapril16,2008.
thepaganoiginsofeaster
longbeforeeasterbecametheholidayitistoday,thespringfestivalwascelebratedbythepeoplearoundtheworld.thecelebrationwasoriginallybasedonthelunarcalendar.thenameeasterisderivedfromthesaxoneostre(whichissynonymouswiththenameofthephoeniciangoddessofthemoon,astartephoto),agermanicgoddessofspringandthedeitywhomeasuredtime