Easter
(Christian holiday)

Easter (Movable Feast)

The Roman Catholic Easter always falls on the Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox, which occurs between March 22 and April 25.

The fluctuation in the date of Easter is primarily explained by the fact that the holiday has Jewish origins, as the Jewish people use a lunar calendar.

On Easter Sunday, the Church celebrates the Resurrection of the Redeemer, marking the end of the fasting period and the abstinence from meat. On this day, it is customary for the Church to bless ham, eggs, brioche, and wine—items meant to protect the faithful from the temptation of indulgence after a long period of self-restraint.

The tradition of sprinkling water on Easter Monday is rooted in the belief in the purifying and fertility-enhancing power of water. Boys and young men would receive decorated eggs as gifts on this day, an ancient symbol of fertility.