When Is Easter Sunday 2014? Date, History And Why We Celebrate The Christian Holiday

Christians who follow the Gregorian calendar will celebrate Easter, the spring holiday that honors the resurrection of Jesus Christ, on Sunday, April 20, according to About.com.

Those who follow the Julian calendar will celebrate Orthodox Easter on April 20 (the dates of the two holidays usually differ, with Orthodox Easter being celebrated later).

The date of Easter changes because of the moon. Each year, Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon following the vernal equinox. This year, the first vernal equinox wasn’t until March 20, which is why Easter will take place in late April.

Easter is also arguably the most important holiday in Roman Catholicism. It marks the end of Lent -- when fasting occurs for 40 days and nights -- and celebrates the resurrection of Christ. Good Friday is honored in remembrance of his crucifixion.

Over the year Easter has adopted some pagan traditions. It’s rumored that the holiday took its name from Eostre, a Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility, or hebdomada calba, which means white week in Latin, according to History.com.

Commercialism has also slipped its way into the Easter celebration. The spring holiday is widely associated with colored eggs, chocolate bunnies and marshmallow chicks. It’s standard for children to celebrate the holiday by getting Easter baskets, searching for hidden eggs and wearing pastel colors and bonnets. The mythical Easter bunny brings baskets to children and hides the eggs, which kids search for on Easter Sunday morning.

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