March 31st is what some would see as an ordinary day, while most would know it as Easter- also known as Resurrection/Easter Sunday for those that are Christian. About 81% of the US population celebrates Easter and around 95 countries on Earth do too. Easter usually is celebrated in either March or April, depending on the moon- which has to specifically be a Full Moon. That’s why Easter is very inconsistent with its dates each year.

But how did Easter begin? Going back into the 2nd century, stated by the Bible in Christianity, it began with the Son of God, Jesus. Due to this story being quite long, in short – taking place outside of Jerusalem, in a place called “Golgotha,” many did not believed Jesus was the son of God, and he was accused of lying. Once accused Jesus was punished, and he was sacrificed onto a cross. He was then later buried. After the third day, his disciples went to his tomb and realized Jesus was resurrected. This day was also on a Sunday, officially known as what we now call, “Easter” or “Easter Sunday.”

After that quick summary, now we wonder: How do Christians celebrate Easter? Well typically, they’d go to Churches and have meals with loved ones. But what sounds strange is that they’d also paint eggs. What is the significance of eggs in Christianity? Christians would decorate these eggs for Easter as symbolism of Jesus’s death and resurrection. This is eventually then followed by an egg hunt.

What is the point of an egg hunt? Actually, Easter egg hunts did not originate from either Christianity or in America, but instead, Germany. Dating back to the late 16th century, Protestant reformer Martin Luther, who was a German theologian, professor, pastor, and church reformer, had organized an egg hunt for a gathering. Despite egg hunts not being religious, churches do incorporate them into celebrations. Another factor Germany introduced was the Easter Bunny in the 1700s. The Easter Bunny plays this role of the judge, judging if a child is either good or bad in behavior, and the bunny would leave gifts in children’s baskets. This event is also similar to another holiday – Christmas. Where Santa, a mythical figure, decides whether a child is either naughty or nice to give presents. Now the Easter Bunny is mostly used for commercial purposes. Americans used to not celebrate Easter until after the Civil War. Despite Easter being known as a religious holiday, non-secular people and a few from other religions do celebrate it. During the same season, Jewish people instead commemorate liberation from slavery in Egypt during Passover. In addition, Eid al-Fitr is celebrated on the evening of  April 9th as Muslims break their fast. March and April are significant to Christians, Jews, and Muslims.

Many non-religious Americans celebrate Easter, those who aren’t Christian would usually celebrate it by going to feasts with beloved ones- this excludes going to Church. What non-secular people also do are egg hunts, as they aren’t really religious activities. Overall, Easter, observed through various traditions and practices, serves as a unifying occasion for individuals worldwide, marking a time for reflection, connection, and celebration.