Other Easter Dates
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In Western Christianity a number of religious dates surround Easter.
Easter is preceded by Lent, a period of forty days of fasting and penitence.
The Sunday before Easter is Palm Sunday and the three days before Easter are known as Maundy (Holy) Thursday (the Last Supper leading to Eucharist), Good Friday (the day on which Jesus was crucified) and Holy Saturday.
The period of Easter, Eastertide, starts on Easter Sunday and finishes seven weeks later on the day of Pentecost.
In Eastern Christiantiy, preparations start with Great Lent. This is followed by Palm week, which follows the fifth Sunday of Great Lent, and ends with Lazarus Saturday. This brings to a close the period of Great Lent.
Palm Sunday follows Lazarus Saturday, then Holy week and finally Easter (or Pascha) when the fast is broken. Bright Week follows Easter.
Easter is also linked to the Jewish Passover because of its position in the calendar. The date of the Last Supper, the meal shared between Jesus and his disciples, is generally thought of as a Passover meal.
Don’t forget the date of Easter 2010
Western Christianity Easter Date 2010 - Sunday 4 April
Eastern Orthodox Easter Date 2010 - Sunday 4 April