Growing up, my family attended a Disciples of Christ, First Christian Church. As with many Christian churches, the Holy Week was a time of deep reflection and spiritual renewal – fitting as the religious holiday falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal (Spring) equinox, i.e. first day of Spring. This determination was established by the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. The date of Easter fluctuates but will fall on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25.
The formula was designed so that Easter usually falls after the holiday of Passover. The Lenten season begins with Ash Wednesday which is calculated by counting back 46 days from Easter, allowing for the traditional 40 days of fasting and six Sundays. Interestingly, the word Easter appears only in one verse in Acts in the King James version of the New Testament and is considered by Biblical scholars as a mistranslation of the Hebrew word for Passover. Early Christians celebrated Jewish holidays, albeit with a new determination.
Still, Easter has come to be a remembrance of the birth and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Some argue that the name Easter is derived from the pagan celebration of the goddess of rebirth, Eostre, around the spring equinox. Our use of eggs and bunnies reflect this theme of spring and birth. Regardless of its origins, Christians have for centuries adopted Easter as a significant milestone in their spiritual calendar.
Although my religious upbringing did not emphasize Lent as do other traditions, we did spend a lot of time at church during Holy Week, beginning with Palm Sunday. I recall the children marching down the aisles waving palm branches and singing hosanna. Even today, the memory stirs something deep in my soul. It brings to life the difference a week can make – from the throngs following Jesus and cheering to the brutal assassination five days later.
I recall how various church members faithfully prayed around the clock, each person taking their turn to keep prayer going from the Maundy Thursday service through Good Friday, sunrise services, and the “official” Easter morning service. It was a time of “coming together” for the greater good.
These memories seem to be flooding my mind this year. Maybe because of one of my 2026 goals – to read the entire Bible in a year. Yes, I have read the Bible before, but I’ve never made a concerted effort to read it within a year’s timeframe. Maybe it is because as I grow older and my family is off living their own lives, I am calling upon other forms of solace. Maybe I am looking for a level of calm and integrity. Maybe it is simply a full circle moment. Regardless, I wish for you a lovely spring, peace, and deviled eggs and chocolate bunnies.
Author’s Note: While I share my religious memories here, please know that this reflection is just that – thoughts of my study and my upbringing. I have studied several other religions and respect both the teachings of each and the individual’s choice to follow another … or none at all.
Silver Sage Sisters 