Today millions of religious and non-religious people celebrate the Easter holiday, while Passover is vastly overlooked. Passover is mentioned is the bible over 40 times while Easter is not mentioned at all. The word Easter is derived from a pagan God, Eastra, which is an ancient word for spring. While both Easter and Passover celebrate freedom, Passover is a biblical holy day that is very specific in its observance. Pesach which is Hebrew for Passover commemorates freedom of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.
It is celebrated solely by Jews, Samaritan Christians and Messianic Jews. Easter is a holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter is also celebrated by Christians and non-believers. Although both holidays are religiously based, only Passover is a biblical mandate from God. Exodus 13:10(KJV) states, “Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from generation to generation”. During the season of Passover, a special diet is mandated.
Deuteronomy 16:3(KJV) states, “Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life”. Also, no work of any kind shall be done during those days. Unlike Passover, Easter has no dietary or work restrictions. You may consume any type of food during Easter including pork, which is prohibited year round for anyone who observes the kosher diet.
Passover is a one day celebration with a Seder meal at nightfall which begins the seven day celebration. Each item on the Seder plate represents the bondage the Israelites suffered; Easter dinner has no symbolism. Easter is celebrated in two very distinct ways: worshipping Sunday morning in church celebrating the resurrection with a Sunday dinner to follow or having Easter egg hunts with a Sunday dinner to follow. Although both holidays relate to God, Easter also embraces a celebration in which God is not included.
So what preparations are made for these holidays? Assuming people are spring cleaning before Easter, the cleaning of the home for each holiday represent something totally different. Weeks before Passover, homes are to be cleaned thoroughly of all chametz (leavened bread). This is a tedious process but can also be a prototype of cleaning hidden sin from our own lives. Easter on the other hand entails shopping for a fancy Sunday Dinner and buying fancy clothes for that day. Unlike Easter, all products that are purchased for Passover must have special approval.
Easter shopping is not in accordance with scriptures whereas Passover shopping is specifically for that occasion and is mandated in scripture. In conclusion, while both holidays celebrate freedom, hope and deliverance, Passover is a holiday that is solely based on the word of God. Easter is a fun holiday and also signifies the most important event of the Christian faith, however when compared to Passover, it falls short of what God intends for us to memorialize.
- Work Cited
- The Family Reference Bible. Ed. Three Lions, Inc and Moore and Associates. NewYork: Thomas Nelson, 1971. Print. King James Version
