R
Easter is called Pascha or some variant of that in Romance speaking countries. I would think Easter would be similar to how in German speaking countries it is Ostern: Easter
So what did you celebrate yesterday, the resurrection of Jesus, or the pagan holiday?
The way that December 25th was chosen is complex, and not necessarily having anything to do with the winter solstice, which actually comes four days earlier.I thought that the reason that these events are celebrated when they are is because they were chose with respect to celestial events. For example, Christmas is celebrated not when Christ was likely born, but around the time of winter when the days stop getting shorter and start to become longer. It symbolizes the darkness of the world and the light that Christ has brought into it. Any association with Pagan celebrations are probably due to the celestial basis of the days.
If you have insomnia some night, try reading the Catholic Encyclopedia link I provided on how the celebration of Christmas came about.Finally, though never at Rome, on authority he knows that the census papers of the Holy Family are still there. [This appeal to Roman archives is as old as Justin Martyr (First Apology 34-35) and Tertullian (Adv. Marc., IV, 7, 19). Julius, in the Cyriline forgeries, is said to have calculated the date from Josephus, on the same unwarranted assumptions about Zachary as did Chrysostom.] Rome, therefore, has observed 25 December long enough to allow of Chrysostom speaking at least in 388 as above (P.G., XLVIII, 752, XLIX, 351).
newadvent.org/cathen/03724b.htm