Easterwill be celebrated this year on Sunday, April 5.
Though widely associated with the Easter Bunny, colorful eggs, and baskets of chocolate, it's a significant holiday for members of the Christian faith. The holiday commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after he was crucified by the Romans around 30 A.D.
Easter follows Lent, a 40-day season of prayer, and is a day after the last day of Holy Week (April 4), which began on March 29 this year.
Here's everything to know about Easter Sunday as it approaches.
How is Easter celebrated?
Some people celebrate Easter by attending Mass or another type of church service on Easter Sunday. According to polling released on April 2 by theNapolitan News Service, a nonprofit that conducts polling, 65% of American voters plan on celebrating the holiday.
That number, according to the outlet, includes 34% of people who celebrate Easter as a religious holiday, 13% who celebrate it as a secular one, and 16% who celebrate it as both.
Easter is typically celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon, on or after the vernal, according to previousUSA TODAY reporting, which can fall anywhere from March 22 to April 25.
Some religious sects have chosen not to include secular Easter traditions, such as the Easter bunny or Easter eggs, according toHistory.com.
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The holiday is also marked with a traditional Easter lamb dinner. In Jewish traditions, lambs were often used for sacrifices and are typically served during Passover, according toHistory.com.
Easter's origins
Many Easter holiday traditions and symbols have roots in pagan celebrations, according toHistory.com.
For example, the tradition of Easter eggs stems from pre-Christian pagan traditions, per the outlet. In ancient cultures, eggs symbolized life, renewal, and rebirth. The pagans believed eggs symbolized fertility and birth.
Another great symbol of the holiday is the Easter Bunny. While the exact origins of the character are unknown, it likely stems from German immigrants who arrived in the United States in the 1700s, according toHistory.com. Baby bunnies in springtime are also associated with birth and renewal.
Not all religious followers celebrate the holiday the same way. Traditions vary across Roman Catholics, Protestants, and Eastern Orthodox.
Eastern Orthodox Christians begin celebrating Easter with Great Lent, starting on Clean Monday, 40 days before Easter, according toHistory.com. Easter is also called Pascha byOrthodox Christians, which means Passover. According toTime and Date, Orthodox Easter falls on April 12.
Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at mdelrey@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Easter is on Sunday. Here's what to know as the holiday approaches.
