Easter, which celebrates Jesus Christ’s resurrection, this year falls on April 20, 2014. The holiday is held on the first Sunday after the full moon after the vernal equinox on March 21.

Easter belongs to a season in the Christian church year that connects with Lent – a 40-day period before Easter where observers practice fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. This is meant to imitate Jesus Christ’s actions and reflect on his life, death and resurrection. The week before Easter is called Holy Week where Maundy Thursday, which commemorates Jesus’ last supper and Good Friday marks the day of Jesus’ crucifixion.

Besides the religious significance of Easter, there has also developed a more secular and commercial aspect in which children collect Easter eggs, bunnies, baskets and candy – a tradition that stems from pagan religions as part of the celebration of spring.

For those celebrating Easter, below are 25 quotes to share during the holiday:

Spiritual

“A man who was completely innocent offered himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including his enemies, and became the ransom of the world. It was a perfect act.” -- Mahatma Gandhi

“The symbolic language of the crucifixion is the death of the old paradigm; resurrection is a leap into a whole new way of thinking.” -- Deepak Chopra

“Easter is very important to me, it's a second chance.” -- Reba McEntire

“Earth’s saddest day and gladdest day were just three days apart!” — Susan Coolidge

“Easter says you can put truth in a grave, but it won't stay there.” -- Clarence W. Hall

“Easter spells out beauty, the rare beauty of new life.” -- S.D. Gordon

“Those have a short Lent who owe money to be paid at Easter.” -- Benjamin Franklin

“Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.” -- Martin Luther

"Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song." -- Pope John Paul II

“The story of Easter is the story of God's wonderful window of divine surprise.” -- Carl Knudsen

“Let the resurrection joy lift us from loneliness and weakness and despair to strength and beauty and happiness.” -- Floyd W. Tomkins

“To be sure, it was not Easter Sunday but Holy Saturday, but, the more I reflect on it, the more this seems to be fitting for the nature of our human life: we are still awaiting Easter; we are not yet standing in the full light but walking toward it full of trust.” -- Pope Benedict XVI, Milestones: Memoirs, 1927-1977

“And he departed from our sight that we might return to our heart, and there find Him. For He departed, and behold, He is here.” -- St. Augustine

“We live and die; Christ died and lived!” -- John Stott

Humorous

“There's nothing better than a good friend, except a good friend with chocolate.” -- Linda Grayson

“Passover and Easter are the only Jewish and Christian holidays that move in sync, like the ice skating pairs we saw during the winter Olympics.” -- Marvin Olasky

“Happy Easter everyone! Jesus dies, comes back from the dead — and we get chocolate eggs. It's like turn-down service from God.” – Dennis Leary

“My mom used to say that Greek Easter was later because then you get stuff cheaper.” -- Amy Sedaris

From the Bible

This is the promise that He hath promised us, even eternal life. -- 1 John

And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. -- Mark 16:6

I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" -- Jesus Christ - John 11:25, 26

It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last. The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man." -- Luke 23:44-47

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. -- Corinthians 15:3-4

He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' -- Luke 24:6-7

You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. -- Acts 3:15

Easter