Easter, or Pascua, is the Christian spring holiday, is the most sacred Christian day of the year. It commemorates the resurrection of Jesus which is central to Christian faith.
The holiday is related to the Jewish holiday of Passover, and to spring celebrations in the northern hemisphere. The Spanish name, “Pasqua,” also means passover.
Easter is the peak of the Christian spring festival. It falls on the Sunday after the first full moon of spring (the vernal equinox).
Easter is The Moveable Feast
The feast is called “the moveable feast” because it is based on the cycles of the moon which do not synchronize with the solar calendar we use today.
Easter Sunday is the next full moon after the northern spring equinox. That full moon can fall any time between March 22 and April 25.
The holiday is preceded by the 40-day fasting period of Lent, and the 7-day Holy Week.
The seven weeks after which lead to Pentecost Sunday are called Eastertide.
Easter in New York City
St Patrick’s Cathedral in Midtown East hosts New York City’s main celebration.
The Easter Parade marches on Fifth Avenue in front of St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Rockefeller Center.