"Resurrection Sunday" instead of Easter?

[havana1]

What’s the deal with some non-Catholic churches calling Easter “Resurrection Sunday”? I don’t get it.

 

[Shiranui117]

They don’t like how Easter’s been commercialized, with the Easter Bunny/Peter Rabbit, chocolate, eggs and candy and all that jazz. They want to keep the reason for the season - which is good! - but they don’t realize they could just call it Pascha, which is basically the name for Easter in any language that isn’t English, German or in the Germanic family.

 

[Third_Day]

What’s the deal with some non-Catholic churches calling Easter “Resurrection Sunday”? I don’t get it.

There are a few denominations that believe the name “Easter” has a pagan origin.

 

[DaveBj]

There are a few denominations that believe the name “Easter” has a pagan origin.

That has always been my objection. The word “Easter” may not derive its origin from the pagan names “Ishtar” and “Ashtaroth,” but morphologically the words are definitely cousins. Besides, in almost all other languages the day is denoted either by a transliteration of the Hebrew word “Paskha” or by its translation in that language (“Passover”). “Resurrection Sunday” is a good alternative, IMNSHO.

DaveBj

 

[guanophore]

What’s the deal with some non-Catholic churches calling Easter “Resurrection Sunday”? I don’t get it.

The word “easter” is derived from the Latin “oestre” and is associated with the Spring Equinox celebration of estrus (fertility) celebrated by Pagans in Europe before the coming of Christianity to those regions. This is where the symbols of bunnies and eggs originate.

 

[thequeen]

What’s the deal with some non-Catholic churches calling Easter “Resurrection Sunday”? I don’t get it.

I think that many prostestant denominations want to take away from Christ’s suffering and totally focus on the ressurection but i feel that as a Catholic it is important to understand what he went through to give us the gift of eternal life

 

[elgar]

The word “easter” is derived from the Latin “oestre” and is associated with the Spring Equinox celebration of estrus (fertility) celebrated by Pagans in Europe before the coming of Christianity to those regions. This is where the symbols of bunnies and eggs originate.

That’s why I always find it a hoot when churches (mainly Protestant) schedule an “Easter egg hunt” on church property on Easter morn. I doubt most are aware of its Pagan origin or even care to know.

 

[SteveVH]

That’s why I always find it a hoot when churches (mainly Protestant) schedule an “Easter egg hunt” on church property on Easter morn. I doubt most are aware of its Pagan origin or even care to know.

If we’re going to go that route, then we better throw away our Christmas trees and wedding rings as well. The Catholic Church sprinkled holy water on both of these pagan feasts (winter and spring solstice) and changed their meaning forever. Christ brings new life to the world and so an egg, as a symbol of new life, does have meaning.

 

[JKirkLVNV]

Don’t we officially call it the “Feast of the Resurrection?”

 

[Juliebug108]

What’s the deal with some non-Catholic churches calling Easter “Resurrection Sunday”? I don’t get it.

Is there something wrong with calling it Resurrection Sunday? I mean, that’s what it is…that’s what we’re all celebrating. Like a previous poster, I would think that it has to do with taking the day back to its religious roots, and moving away from the secular and commercial perspective of the day. Easter shouldn’t be about baskets full of candy or grown-ups dressed up in Bunny costumes, you know? It’s a celebration of Christ’s glorious Resurrection.

Btw, I’m just curious - which non-Catholic denominations are doing this?

Peace and blessings,
Julie

 

[cooterhein]

I think that many prostestant denominations want to take away from Christ’s suffering and totally focus on the ressurection but i feel that as a Catholic it is important to understand what he went through to give us the gift of eternal life

We do Good Friday services on Friday and we celebrate the Resurrection on Sunday. We don’t want to take away from Christ’s suffering, and you can know this is true because I’m telling you “We don’t want to take away any focus from Christ’s suffering.” In the future, please do not presume to know the intentions and mindset of a Protestant better than a Protestant does.

The real intent (when Protestants do this) is to take the focus off of bunnies, Peeps, chocolate rabbits, jelly beans, colored eggs, and the seasonal celebration of Springtime and Fertility in order to have a more appropriately Christ-centered focus on this day.

I think a lot of it has to do with kids. It’s a little different for Protestants than it is for Catholics, and please keep in mind that Protestant kids don’t do the entire Lenten season- it’s just Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter. So for Protestant kids, it’s gotten to the point where Easter’s religious focus is obscured at best and marginal at worst. So as crazy as it may seem to someone who does Ash Wednesday and abstains from meat on Fridays during this time and gives up something else for the duration of Lent and celebrates some aspect of Jesus’ victory over sin and death over the course of six Sundays, it’s a very different situation for Protestant kids in Protestant churches. These ministers and pastors and reverends sometimes feel that they need to make a special effort in order to make sure that when these kids think about Easter, they think about Jesus in such a way that he’s not an afterthought. Or that they think about Him at all.

When this happens, it’s done with the best of intentions and because church leaders see a need for it. This need does not exist in Catholicism- at least not to the same extent- but I think it’s the kind of thing anyone would do if they were in that same situation.

 

[hizstory]

Personally, I think Resurrection Sunday is both more accurate and more appropriate. As a Catholic, I have all of Lent and especially Holy Thursday through Holy Saturday to focus on Christ’s suffering (as well as every Tuesday and Friday when the Sorrowful Mysteries are recited), but “Easter” Sunday is all about the Resurrection.

 

[JHow]

…they don’t realize they could just call it Pascha, which is basically the name for Easter in any language that isn’t English, German or in the Germanic family.

In Polish it is called “Wielkanoc” from wielka + noc “Great Night”.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter#Slavic_languages

I wouldn’t change “Easter” because I hate changing stuff like this.

For those of you who like the term “Resurrection Sunday,” have a look at the Croatian formulation, “Uskrs”, however.

 

[thequeen]

We do Good Friday services on Friday and we celebrate the Resurrection on Sunday. We don’t want to take away from Christ’s suffering, and you can know this is true because I’m telling you “We don’t want to take away any focus from Christ’s suffering.” In the future, please do not presume to know the intentions and mindset of a Protestant better than a Protestant does.

The real intent (when Protestants do this) is to take the focus off of bunnies, Peeps, chocolate rabbits, jelly beans, colored eggs, and the seasonal celebration of Springtime and Fertility in order to have a more appropriately Christ-centered focus on this day.

I think a lot of it has to do with kids. It’s a little different for Protestants than it is for Catholics, and please keep in mind that Protestant kids don’t do the entire Lenten season- it’s just Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter. So for Protestant kids, it’s gotten to the point where Easter’s religious focus is obscured at best and marginal at worst. So as crazy as it may seem to someone who does Ash Wednesday and abstains from meat on Fridays during this time and gives up something else for the duration of Lent and celebrates some aspect of Jesus’ victory over sin and death over the course of six Sundays, it’s a very different situation for Protestant kids in Protestant churches. These ministers and pastors and reverends sometimes feel that they need to make a special effort in order to make sure that when these kids think about Easter, they think about Jesus in such a way that he’s not an afterthought. Or that they think about Him at all.

When this happens, it’s done with the best of intentions and because church leaders see a need for it. This need does not exist in Catholicism- at least not to the same extent- but I think it’s the kind of thing anyone would do if they were in that same situation.

Hey sorry I meant nom offense but I was not always catholic I am a convert and the protestant church that i was part of did not do the holy thursday or good friday in fact we were hardly allowed to even mention Christ’s crucifixion it wasnt until i became Catholic that Iunderstood what He went through for us .but at the same time i do feel that we can learn from our protestant brothers and sisters.

 

[thequeen]

We do Good Friday services on Friday and we celebrate the Resurrection on Sunday. We don’t want to take away from Christ’s suffering, and you can know this is true because I’m telling you “We don’t want to take away any focus from Christ’s suffering.” In the future, please do not presume to know the intentions and mindset of a Protestant better than a Protestant does.

The real intent (when Protestants do this) is to take the focus off of bunnies, Peeps, chocolate rabbits, jelly beans, colored eggs, and the seasonal celebration of Springtime and Fertility in order to have a more appropriately Christ-centered focus on this day.

I think a lot of it has to do with kids. It’s a little different for Protestants than it is for Catholics, and please keep in mind that Protestant kids don’t do the entire Lenten season- it’s just Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter. So for Protestant kids, it’s gotten to the point where Easter’s religious focus is obscured at best and marginal at worst. So as crazy as it may seem to someone who does Ash Wednesday and abstains from meat on Fridays during this time and gives up something else for the duration of Lent and celebrates some aspect of Jesus’ victory over sin and death over the course of six Sundays, it’s a very different situation for Protestant kids in Protestant churches. These ministers and pastors and reverends sometimes feel that they need to make a special effort in order to make sure that when these kids think about Easter, they think about Jesus in such a way that he’s not an afterthought. Or that they think about Him at all.

When this happens, it’s done with the best of intentions and because church leaders see a need for it. This need does not exist in Catholicism- at least not to the same extent- but I think it’s the kind of thing anyone would do if they were in that same situation.

Hey sorry I meant nom offense but I was not always catholic I am a convert and the protestant church that i was part of did not do the holy thursday or good friday in fact we were hardly allowed to even mention Christ’s crucifixion it wasnt until i became Catholic that Iunderstood what He went through for us .but at the same time i do feel that we can learn from our protestant brothers and sisters.

 

[1beleevr]

What’s the deal with some non-Catholic churches calling Easter “Resurrection Sunday”? I don’t get it.

What’s the big deal? Was this not the morning that our Lord was Resurrected? Why do we call it Easter anyway?

 

[Hokomai]

I like the way people confidently make statements about ‘all languages’ or ‘almost all languages’. Must have been to university.

 

[DaveBj]

I like the way people confidently make statements about ‘all languages’ or ‘almost all languages’. Must have been to university.

Well, yes I have, but in this case, I had access to a huge library that included a butt-load of multi-lingual dictionaries.

DaveBj

 

[elgar]

Hey sorry I meant nom offense but I was not always catholic I am a convert and the protestant church that i was part of did not do the holy thursday or good friday in fact we were hardly allowed to even mention Christ’s crucifixion it wasnt until i became Catholic that Iunderstood what He went through for us .but at the same time i do feel that we can learn from our protestant brothers and sisters.

It used to be tradition here in the midwest for shops to shut down on Good Friday afternoon regardless of Catholic or Protestant majorities. I’d be curious to know if this is still observed anywhere and by whom.

In our Protestant church (Anglican) we observe lent in its entirety beginning with imposition of ashes and Holy Eucharist on Ash Wednesday. Some parishes offer stations of the cross on Fridays, some obstain from meat on Fridays. Holy week is observed with services on Wednesday (Tenabrae), Thursday (Holy or Maundy) with Holy Communion, Friday (Good) with reserved Sacrament. Most offer the Great Vigil of Easter on Saturday night or an abbreviated version on Easter morning. I realize we are more the exception than the norm for Protestants.

 

[cooterhein]

Hey sorry I meant nom offense but I was not always catholic I am a convert and the protestant church that i was part of did not do the holy thursday or good friday in fact we were hardly allowed to even mention Christ’s crucifixion it wasnt until i became Catholic that Iunderstood what He went through for us .but at the same time i do feel that we can learn from our protestant brothers and sisters.

My bad, I kind of assumed that all Protestants would do something on Good Friday. What kinds of Protestant churches don’t do that?

I think there’s a lot to be said for what Catholics do with Lent, btw- I think Protestants could solve a lot of their own problems in this area by taking the initiative of following a Catholic example or two. My home church has done a Stations of the Cross type of thing in the past, but that was largely inspired by a nearby Protestant church that did something similar. In my experience, it’s pretty rare for Protestants to actually follow the CC’s example on anything.

I guess the “Resurrection Sunday” thing is something that could work to some extent, but there’s so much more that can be done if you (and by you, I mean we) just decide to do it. If I had a hand in deciding how things happen (which I don’t this year but I probably will next year), I’d probably start with a Seder that connects Passover to the Last Supper (though that’s not really a Catholic thing), I’d look into doing something with at least one of the Sundays besides Palm Sunday and Easter, I think I’d lobby for a voluntary day of fasting, and maybe introduce something like the Stations. I know that wouldn’t make me a good Catholic since I’d just be picking and choosing what I think is valuable, but…hey, you know, I do think a lot of it is quite valuable. I definitely don’t want to trash Lent as a whole, either- the overall product is quite impressive, to say the least.

I’m sorry that you missed out on that much at your former church. I’m glad you’re getting more of a full experience right now, and I hope your old church realized its shortcomings at some point and took steps to correct it. If not…sad for them and anyone still going there.