Should We Celebrate Easter? A Look at History, Scripture & Tradition
- Ray Reynolds
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
Over my 30 years in ministry I’ve fielded a lot of questions about our modern holidays. Most of us realize that December 25th isn't Jesus’s literal birthday (He was likely born in the spring), and that the date of Easter shifts every year. This often leads to a deeper, more personal question: Is it actually okay for a Christian to celebrate these days? How do we even know which day is correct in celebrating that holiday? The word "holiday" literally comes from "holy day," but the history behind how we got here is a bit messy.
First, we should consider how Easter became a holiday. In the early days of the church, practicing your faith openly was a death sentence. To survive, early religious leaders were strategic. They began linking Christian celebrations to existing pagan festivals. By observing the Resurrection during the same week as a local pagan holiday, Christians could worship in relative safety, hidden in plain sight. While this was a clever way to spread the Gospel and save lives, it meant "layering" Christian truth over secular traditions. For example, the festival of the Norse goddess Eastre (or Ostara) happened right around the vernal equinox. Because this was also near the time of the Passover and the Resurrection, missionaries slowly nudged the celebration toward a spiritual focus. Eventually, the name "Easter" stuck, and the holiday spread worldwide.
Second, we should consider the symbols and significance of Easter. You might wonder where the bunnies and colored eggs come in. Historically, rabbits and eggs were symbols of fertility used to celebrate the "rebirth" of spring. Eggs were even dyed the colors of the sun to represent the Aurora Borealis. Today, we see these symbols everywhere, often without knowing their origins. In 325 AD, the Council of Nicaea officially stepped in to standardize things, decreeing that Easter would be held on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox. That is why the date jumps around between March 22 and April 25 every year. In the complete works of Josephus, he tells us that Jesus died on April 3 and raised from the dead on April 5 (page 420). This happened in 1953 and 2015 but will not happen again until 2037 and 2048. The Easter sunrise came in Jerusalem at 6:21 AM IDT. That was 10:21 PM CDT Saturday night in Foley, AL. It’s rare and special. Don’t you think? Therefore, I took a few moments that night to reflect on the significance of the holiday.
Third, we should consider how to respond to those who celebrate the day. With all this "pagan" history, it’s easy to feel conflicted. Do we avoid the holiday altogether? Do we hide the eggs but skip the bunny? Whenever I feel stuck on these "grey area" issues, I go back to the words of the Apostle Paul in Romans 14:5-8: "One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord... If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord." This passage applies to matters of opinion. We have some liberty to choose what we think in these matters.
Fourth, we should consider the significance of the resurrection. At the Summerdale Church of Christ, we celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus every week. Resurrection Sunday is everyday for us. We see every Sunday as holy and sacred. We take communion (the Lord's Supper), as it was commanded (Matthew 26:26-30, Mark 14:22-26, Luke 22:14-20), and practiced in the NT church (Acts 2:42, 20:7). The apostles commanded us to do this every first day of the week until He comes again (I Corinthians 11:26). This weekly practice is a memorial of the new covenant in His blood. Jesus paid the penalty for our sins and secured our forgiveness (Matthew 26:28, Hebrews 9:22). His body (bread) and His blood (cup) are symbols to keep us focused on the power of the cross. As Christians we proclaim Jesus' death and sacrifice every week until His return. We take our minds back to those 3 days that changed everything.
Here is my personal take: History matters, but intent matters more. If you celebrate: Do it with a heart full of gratitude for the empty tomb. Use the symbols of spring to talk about the new life we have in Christ. If you choose not to: Do it out of a sincere desire to keep your worship pure, but do so without judging those who feel differently. At the end of the day, the calendar date is secondary to the reality of the Resurrection. Whether you’re hunting eggs with your grandkids, eating deviled eggs and potato salad, or spending the day in quiet reflection, do it all for the glory of God. And, if you want to celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, you are welcome to visit our congregation every Sunday at 10 AM.
You are loved.
Ray Reynolds
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