Easter is one of the most ancient festivals and is celebrated throughout the world in different ways. Christians particularly celebrate Easter to commemorate death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Every year Easter comes on a Sunday. On Easter Sunday, Christians celebrate the resurrection of Lord Christ. The Christians believe that after his Crucifixion and death, Jesus Christ came to life after three days or was raised from the dead on the cross itself. Therefore, traditionally, death of Jesus Christ is commemorated on Friday just before Easter Sunday. The Christians believe that through his death, burial and resurrection, Lord Christ paid the penalty for his sin and became the eternal Jesus Christ.
Easter is preceded by a 40 days period, known as Lent. The purpose of Lent is to fast, repent and bring spiritual discipline in life in preparation for Easter. Lent begins with Wednesday, called as Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday marks the start of the season lent. Typically, Sundays are not counted in the 40 days period. During some Ash Wednesday services, the minister lightly rubs the sign of cross on to the forehead of worshippers. All Christian churches do not observe Lent or Ash Wednesdays.
Thus Lent begins on ash Wednesdays and ends on Easter Sundays. In western Christianity, Easter is always celebrated on the Sunday immediately following the Paschal Full Moon. According to the Ecclesiastical tables, the Paschal (Passover) Full Moon is the first Ecclesiastical Full Moon date after March 20, every year.
