Easter

Let the belated Holy Week posts continue!  After Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, the final church service held during the Triduum (which refers to the three days in the church calendar when the Last Supper, the crucifixion, and the Resurrection are commemorated) is Easter.  Celebrated on the Sunday after Good Friday, Easter marks the day Jesus was resurrection from the dead after being crucified three days before.  It is a celebration held around the world and marks a stark contrast to the solemness of Good Friday- while that one grieves over the death of Jesus, this one celebrates his coming to life again, an event that is absolutely central and vital to Christian religions.  Because the Resurrection represents the hope Christians have in their faith, it is celebrated with much gladness and singing.  In fact, the word "Alleluia," which cannot be said during Lent, is spoken a record number of times on Easter. 
Now, although Easter is a Christian holiday, it seems as though the name itself might actually have pagan origins.  Interestingly enough, the website below claims that Easter might originally have gotten its name from that of a pagan goddess.  Evidently, the "Teutonic dawn goddess of fertility [was] known variously as Ostare, Ostara, Ostern, Eostra, Eostre, Eostur, Eastra, Eastur, Austron and Ausos."  And, it seems as though her name might be derived from the ancient word for spring: eastre.

This is a pretty interesting website on the origins of the word Easter.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/easter1.htm