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Holly3278
Guest
I am so confused by this. Everyone knows that Easter is the day that Jesus was resurrected so why the need to rename this holy day as “Resurrection Day”? 
Why do some Protestants call Easter "Resurrection Day" instead of Easter?
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Cluny
Guest
Because “Easter” is derived from the name of the fertility goddess Astarte.
English is practically unique in using the word “Easter”
Most European languages use the word PASCHA (itself a metathesis of the Hebrew PESACH, meaning “Passover”)–Pascha in Greek, Latin, and Russian and most Slavic languages, Pascua in Spanish, Paques in French, Pasquale in Italian.
Ukrainian is different: “Velikiden”, meaning “Great day.”
English is practically unique in using the word “Easter”
Most European languages use the word PASCHA (itself a metathesis of the Hebrew PESACH, meaning “Passover”)–Pascha in Greek, Latin, and Russian and most Slavic languages, Pascua in Spanish, Paques in French, Pasquale in Italian.
Ukrainian is different: “Velikiden”, meaning “Great day.”
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jpk1313
Guest
Becuse they are heretics who are trying to lead the faithfull into error
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Agape_Thom
Guest
A very thoughtful and reasoned answer. Also, it is indeed the resurrection of Our Lord that we celebrate. What better description of the day than to call it what it actually is?
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DavidMark
Guest
I’m surprised that Holly, with so many posts, didn’t know this. “Resurrection Day” is not new.
Consider that the early church was a dis-spirited Body for about three days after the Crucifixion. After Mary Magdalene realized that the Lord would continually be with them, the other followers also understood, and they stood up and started to teach. If this had not happened, neither I nor anyone else would know about Jesus! This is what Resurrection means to me. I did not see the body of Jesus, and don’t need to.
Consider that the early church was a dis-spirited Body for about three days after the Crucifixion. After Mary Magdalene realized that the Lord would continually be with them, the other followers also understood, and they stood up and started to teach. If this had not happened, neither I nor anyone else would know about Jesus! This is what Resurrection means to me. I did not see the body of Jesus, and don’t need to.
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Mattapoisett64
Guest
The “error” being what, precisely – that we don’t celebrate the Resurrection on that day? That “Easter” is the only proper name for the feast? As another poster pointed out, most other languages and cultures have a very different name for the day.Becuse they are heretics who are trying to lead the faithfull into error
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DavidMark
Guest
Good answer Mattapoisett64,
At least they are mindfully observing it in some fashion.
I remember an Easter morning in college at Kansas University in Lawrence in the 70s.
There was a gathering by Potter’s Pond, on campus, and I arrived early, and spoke with the youth leader, and mentioned that I was a Baha’i.
Then, when he got up to speak, he denied that there was any redeeming value in other Teachers, saying “It is not Buddha, or Baha’u’llah,…” etc.
Such an attack from his heart to mine has polished my devotion over the years, to both Christ and Baha’u’llah, altho’ to me, they are of the same spirit.
All physical life depends on the light of the sun, which is not a cognizant being; and human souls rely on the spiritual sun which rises from time to time in history, and is called a different name each time, just as each day has its own name and characteristic. But we are lovers of the light, from whatever point it might rise.
At least they are mindfully observing it in some fashion.
I remember an Easter morning in college at Kansas University in Lawrence in the 70s.
There was a gathering by Potter’s Pond, on campus, and I arrived early, and spoke with the youth leader, and mentioned that I was a Baha’i.
Then, when he got up to speak, he denied that there was any redeeming value in other Teachers, saying “It is not Buddha, or Baha’u’llah,…” etc.
Such an attack from his heart to mine has polished my devotion over the years, to both Christ and Baha’u’llah, altho’ to me, they are of the same spirit.
All physical life depends on the light of the sun, which is not a cognizant being; and human souls rely on the spiritual sun which rises from time to time in history, and is called a different name each time, just as each day has its own name and characteristic. But we are lovers of the light, from whatever point it might rise.
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Cluny
Guest
<<All physical life depends on the light of the sun, which is not a cognizant being; and human souls rely on the spiritual sun which rises from time to time in history, and is called a different name each time, just as each day has its own name and characteristic. But we are lovers of the light, from whatever point it might rise.>>
From the Christian viewpoint, this is totally unacceptable and totally untrue.
Christians believe that Jesus is God Incarnate in a unique (meaning one of a kind, never before, and never to be repeated) incarnation.
Jesus Himself said that (though not in those exact words).
He actually physically died and rose from the dead in His glorified Body.
If Jesus is not Who He Himself said He was then He was either a liar or a lunatic.
Don’t patronize Him by calling Him a “spiritual sun which rises from time to time in history.” He doesn’t present us with that alternative.
From the Christian viewpoint, this is totally unacceptable and totally untrue.
Christians believe that Jesus is God Incarnate in a unique (meaning one of a kind, never before, and never to be repeated) incarnation.
Jesus Himself said that (though not in those exact words).
He actually physically died and rose from the dead in His glorified Body.
If Jesus is not Who He Himself said He was then He was either a liar or a lunatic.
Don’t patronize Him by calling Him a “spiritual sun which rises from time to time in history.” He doesn’t present us with that alternative.
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spoiltvictorian
Guest
There are a few churches who choose a different name because to them, “Easter” reminds them of mainline churches heavily attended only on Easter and Christmas. They do it to downplay the holiday and focus on Christ. They are well-intended but the result is usually that the congregation never gets a real celebratory service. 
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Holly3278
Guest
Just because I have a lot of posts doesn’t mean I know it all.
In fact, I know far from everything. By the way, the Baha’i faith is false.
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DavidMark
Guest
“Don’t patronize Him by calling Him a “spiritual sun which rises from time to time in history.” He doesn’t present us with that alternative.”
God sent revelations before and after Jesus; and God sees who responds and who doesn’t.
“By the way, the Baha’i faith is false.”
I don’t expect everyone to love Bahá’í faith like I do. And sometimes I would rather have my eyes gouged out and be set on fire than listen to any more drivel of disdain; yet the counsel of God has always been ‘Be patient, for thy Lord is patient.’ And so I try to explain what they will all come to see eventually, altho’ it may be too late.
**Say: O concourse of the rulers and of the learned and the wise! The Promised Day is come and the Lord of Hosts hath appeared. Rejoice ye with great joy by reason of this supreme felicity. Aid Him then through the power of wisdom and utterance. Thus biddeth you the One Who hath ever proclaimed, ‘Verily, no God is there but Me, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.’ **(Tablets of Baha’u’llah, p. 239)
God sent revelations before and after Jesus; and God sees who responds and who doesn’t.
“By the way, the Baha’i faith is false.”
I don’t expect everyone to love Bahá’í faith like I do. And sometimes I would rather have my eyes gouged out and be set on fire than listen to any more drivel of disdain; yet the counsel of God has always been ‘Be patient, for thy Lord is patient.’ And so I try to explain what they will all come to see eventually, altho’ it may be too late.
**Say: O concourse of the rulers and of the learned and the wise! The Promised Day is come and the Lord of Hosts hath appeared. Rejoice ye with great joy by reason of this supreme felicity. Aid Him then through the power of wisdom and utterance. Thus biddeth you the One Who hath ever proclaimed, ‘Verily, no God is there but Me, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.’ **(Tablets of Baha’u’llah, p. 239)
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Cluny
Guest
<<“Don’t patronize Him by calling Him a “spiritual sun which rises from time to time in history.” He doesn’t present us with that alternative.”
God sent revelations before and after Jesus; and God sees who responds and who doesn’t.>>
No, He didn’t.
Jesus was the last Word. Period.
God sent revelations before and after Jesus; and God sees who responds and who doesn’t.>>
No, He didn’t.
Jesus was the last Word. Period.
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Lev23
Guest
Actually, the biblical name for the day Jesus was resurrected was on the Firstfruits, the first Sunday of Passover.I am so confused by this. Everyone knows that Easter is the day that Jesus was resurrected so why the need to rename this holy day as “Resurrection Day”?
Leviticus 23:11
He is to wave the sheaf before the LORD so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath.
The first day of the week, Sunday, which in this case is the “day after the sabbath”, the first Sunday of Passover-firstfruits.
Luke 24:1-8
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ " Then they remembered his words.
Jesus Christ is the firstfruits from among the dead.
**I Corinthians 15:20-23
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. **
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mmmcounts
Guest
I grew up in a small non-mainline church that preferred to call it Resurrection Sunday, and we would actually have an extra service starting a little before sunrise. I would spend upwards of 5 hours at church on that Sunday morning instead of two and a half to three, and the whole thing was devoted to celebrating Christ’s resurrection in a variety of ways that you wouldn’t really see the rest of the year.There are a few churches who choose a different name because to them, “Easter” reminds them of mainline churches heavily attended only on Easter and Christmas. They do it to downplay the holiday and focus on Christ. They are well-intended but the result is usually that the congregation never gets a real celebratory service.
Some people still called it Easter, of course, and it wasn’t a big deal at all. Most of the people there preferred to call it Resurrection Sunday, though, and in most situations it was because they wanted to make the switch from focusing on family, food, Peeps, and chocolate bunnies to focusing on the reason we celebrate- Jesus’ resurrection.
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wwolverine
Guest
Holly, as a Catholic, I feel that "Resurrection Day’ conveys the entire meaning of the event than the Easter does. We have grown with the Easter word, but I am sure in other languages it must mean Resurrection. eg mine called Punnor Jivont ponnacho dis, meaning Resurrected day, and am mure many languages other than english may mean the same.I am so confused by this. Everyone knows that Easter is the day that Jesus was resurrected so why the need to rename this holy day as “Resurrection Day”?
Now a days Easter has become more famous as easter bunny, or easter eggs etc.
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4Squarebaby
Guest
I was just about to post the same thing. Good thing I read all the post. I like to add unlike Christmas Christ Mass, the other Holy holiday to be accepted by the secular world very few know the religious root of the word Easter. And according to previous posters that root comes from pagan traditions and not Judeo/Christian traditions.
As a Christmas and Easter Christian as a child I celebrated Easter, even in public school with the ACLU running rampant in America. As an atheistic adult Easter and Spring break were interchangeable. It was only after becoming a born again Christian when the resurrection of Christ became the focus
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Janet1983
Guest
Well it’s not all that unique… German for Easter is Ostern…
I found this here on Wikipedia:
Old English Ēostre (also Ēastre) and Old High German Ôstarâ are the names of a putative Germanic goddess whose Anglo-Saxon month, Ēostur-monath, has given its name to the Christian festival of Easter.
The thing is that only few know where the word comes from when they use it. I am of the opinion that there is nothing wrong with the word itself… There are enough churches that still have pre-christian traditions for Easter, so why mess with the name on top of that?
I think it is just important to stress that it’s Jesus Resurrection and not the Day of the Easter Bunny…
I think the dutch solution for that is rather cute… the bells fly to Rome on Good Friday and on Easter morning they return with eggs and chocolate bunnies… How neat to explain it like that without the silly bunny…
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spoiltvictorian
Guest
Thanks for sharing this. I would say that is the right way to switch focus from the word “Easter.”
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survive
Guest
Easter is extremely unlikely to come from Astarte, and the putative Germanic goddess Eostur is undocumented. Instead, we ahve evidence that eostr- is just the Germanic term for beginning, spring, sunrise and the east – a reasonable assumption seems to be that Eostr-monath is just spring-month, the month in the middle of spring.
Resurrection Day or Resurrection Sunday, in my old churches, was the favored term because it avoided setting off both the fear of secularizing/commercializing in some members’ minds and the string of whispered pagan-Catholic theories from the people who had heard such rumors and would spread them. It kept the spotlight on the Resurrection, the whole point.
Resurrection Day or Resurrection Sunday, in my old churches, was the favored term because it avoided setting off both the fear of secularizing/commercializing in some members’ minds and the string of whispered pagan-Catholic theories from the people who had heard such rumors and would spread them. It kept the spotlight on the Resurrection, the whole point.
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