Easter 2025: Key Dates and Meaning Behind the Holiday
As Easter approaches, many are wondering when the holiday falls this year and what significance it holds for Christians around the world. According to a report by TCPalm, Easter Sunday 2025 is set to take place on Sunday, April 20.
The period of Lent, a 40-day period of prayer and fasting leading up to Easter, will come to an end on Holy Thursday, April 17, 2025. TCPalm reports that Lent began on Ash Wednesday, March 5, and has been observed by Christians and Catholics around the world.
The origin of Lent dates back to the 300s, under the reign of Emperor Constantine in Rome. According to TCPalm, citing Vatican News, early Christians originally began preparing for Easter with just two days of fasting and penitence, which later turned into Holy Week. The Council of Nicea, convened by Emperor Constantine in 325 CE, decided on a set of agreements to guide how the church would observe, teach, and practice its beliefs about the life of Jesus Christ.
As TCPalm notes, the 40-day period of Lent was established as a way to prepare for Easter, mirroring Jesus’ 40-day fast in the desert. The publication quotes Vatican News, saying, “By 325, the Council of Nicea already testifies to a 40-day preparation for Easter, after the ‘model’ of Jesus who spent 40 days in the desert…”
Good Friday, which commemorates the day Jesus was crucified, falls on Friday, April 18, 2025. TCPalm cites Christianity.com, saying, “For Christians, Good Friday is an important day of the year because it celebrates what we believe to be the most momentous weekend in the history of the world.”
Holy Week, the most significant week in Catholicism, begins with Palm Sunday and ends on Easter Sunday. TCPalm provides a breakdown of the days within Holy Week:
* Palm Sunday: Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem
* Monday: Jesus cleared out the temple with a whip
* Tuesday: Jesus was anointed with oil at Bethany and preached on the Mount of Olives
* Wednesday: Jesus was betrayed by the apostle Judas
* Holy Thursday: Jesus celebrated the Last Supper, prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, and was arrested
* Good Friday: Jesus was sentenced to death, crucified, and died on the cross
* Holy Saturday: Jesus was buried in the tomb
* Easter Sunday: Jesus rose from the dead
The date of Easter is determined by the lunar calendar, with Easter Sunday always falling on the first Sunday after the spring equinox full moon. TCPalm notes that this is why Easter can fall on a different date each year, ranging from March 22 to April 25 in the Gregorian calendar.
In conclusion, Easter 2025 is set to take place on Sunday, April 20, marking the end of the 40-day period of Lent. The holiday holds significant meaning for Christians around the world, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As reported by TCPalm, the period leading up to Easter, including Holy Week and Good Friday, is a time for reflection, prayer, and celebration for Christians.
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