The early Christians, many of whom were of Jewish origin, were brought up in the Hebrew tradition
and regarded Easter as a new feature of the Passover festival, a commemoration of the advent of the Messiah as foretold by
the prophets.
Easter is observed by the churches of the West on the first Sunday following the full moon
that occurs on or following the spring equinox (March 2I). So Easter became a "movable" feast which can occur as early as
March 22 or as late as April 25.
Easter is at the end of the Lenten season, which covers a forty-six-day period that begins
on Ash Wednesday and ends with Easter. The Lenten season itself comprises forty days, as the six Sundays in Lent are not actually
a part of Lent. Sundays are considered a commemoration of Easter Sunday and have always been excluded from the Lenten fast.
The Lenten season is a period of penitence in preparation for the highest festival of the church year, Easter.
Holy Week, the last week of Lent, begins with the observance of Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday takes
its name from Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem where the crowds laid palms at his feet. Holy Thursday commemorates the
Last Supper, which was held the evening before the Crucifixion. Friday in Holy Week is the anniversary of the Crufixion, the
day that Christ was crucified and died on the cross. Holy week and the Lenten season end with Easter Sunday, the day of resurrection
of Jesus Christ.
