April 2, 2026
Vol. 26, No. 46
In This Issue
Happy Easter
UCO honored for being military friendly See Page 8
FRIDAY, APRIL 3
Partly Cloudy/Wind High 83° Low 45°
SATURDAY, APRIL 4 Showers High 62° Low 39°
SUNDAY, APRIL 5 Sunny High 66° Low 43°
This weekend families will be getting together and once again celebrating Easter Sunday with special meals and Easter Egg hunts for children. In this week’s edition, we have some Easter related events, in this weekend calendar on Page 6. And we have religious services listed on the worship directory on Page 19. With the help of Metro News, we take a look at the origin of Easter. Easter is the most important celebration on the Christian liturgical calendar. While commemorations of Jesus Christ’s resurrection likely occurred earlier, the earliest recorded observance of an Easter celebration was in the second century, according to Britannica. Initial Easter celebrations weren’t known as “Easter,” which is a word that was borrowed from spring non-Christian celebrations of Eostre. It only became
associated with Christian usage later on - long after biblical scripture was written. The earliest Easter celebrations were a version of Passover. According to leading sabbath scholar Professor Samuele Bacchiocchi, Christians universally kept Passover on the biblical date of Nisan until 135 A.D. Early commemorations focused on the crucifixion, and the pain and suffering of Jesus. Bacchiocchi says that eventually the resurrection emerged as the dominant reason for the celebration that would be known as Easter, and also as the main message of weekly Christian Sunday Masses. By the fourth century, the Easter Vigil and celebration were well-established and a symbol of joyful anticipation of the resurrection. Easter is now celebrated annually by faithful Christians. Scripture depictions helped shape the holiday that has become an integral component of the Christian faith.