在欧美各国，复活节（Easter）是一个重要的节日。按《圣经-马太福音》的说法，耶稣基督在十字架上受刑死后三天复活，因而设立了复活节。

　　复活节是纪念耶稣复活，也是基督教最重要的一个节日。据圣经记载，上帝的儿子耶稣降生在马槽里，当他三十岁的时候，挑选十二个学生，开始传道工作。三年半中，他医病、传道、赶鬼，帮助各样有需要的人，将天国的道理说给人听。一直到上帝所安排的时候到了，耶稣基督被门徒犹大出卖，被捉拿、审问，被罗马兵丁钉死在十字架上，临死前曾预言三日后必复活。果然在第三日，耶稣复活了！按圣经的解释，耶稣基督乃道成肉身的圣子，来世上为要赎世人的罪，成为世人的代罪羔羊，这也是为什么复活节如此重要了。

　　《圣经-新约全书》记载，耶稣被钉死在十字架上，第三天身体复活，复活节因此得名。复活节是基督宗教最重大的节日，重要性超过圣诞节，宗教起源与节期在以色列。按《圣经-马太福音》的说法，耶稣基督在十字架上受刑死后三天复活，因而设立此节。历史学家根据《圣经》和先进以色列人逾越节的日期，推算出在春分日（3月21日）之后月满后的第一个星期天就是《圣经》中讲到耶稣复活的日子。由于每年的春分日都不固定，所以每年的复活节的具体日期也是不确定的。但节期大致在3月22日至4月25日之间。

　　关于耶稣基督之死，按基督教教义，是为了赎世人的罪；耶稣基督的身体复活，是为了叫信徒得到永生。因此，在基督宗教中，复活节具有极度重要伟大的意义。

　　英国大部分节日都起源于宗教。复活节发生在过了春分月圆后的第一个星期日，原是纪念西亚异教神明巴力的同父异母妹妹亚斯塔路降生的日子，亚斯塔路也是巴力的情妇。相传巴力得知妹妹亚斯塔路生于一枚天鹅蛋中，就去灌木中寻找；找到了，就抱在怀里孵化出了一只兔子；兔子长大后成了一个美女，和巴力同居，后来在巴力危难之际还救过巴力一命。英语单词Easter的词源就是亚斯塔路。

复活节彩蛋

　　十二世纪时，人们在复活节节庆中加入鸡蛋，此蛋多涂以红色，也有绘成彩色。故一般称之为“复活节彩蛋”（easter egg，一般也称为复活蛋）。蛋的原始象征意义是为“春天—新生命的开始”。基督徒则用来象征“耶稣复活，走出石墓”。复活节彩蛋是复活节里最重要的食物象征，意味着生命的开始与延续。如今的彩蛋花样繁多，形式各异，如镂空的蛋雕一般亦可归入广义的彩蛋之列。

　　关于复活蛋的起源，根据第一个传说：描述圣女玛利亚玛达肋纳在泪光中，忽然看见有两个人穿著耀眼的衣服，站在她们的身边，她回家的时候，把所见的异像彩绘在复活蛋上，然后才给耶稣的门徒。门徒也利用鸽子把这讯息传扬开来。第二个的传说是：圣德范被敌人用石头砸死，为纪念他所留下来的。

　　另一个传说是：替耶稣背十字架的那个人，他是销售鸡蛋的商人，有一天，他看到篮子里有很多漂亮的彩绘复活蛋，于是他就把这样的讯息传给人们。

Easter is perhaps the most important Christian holiday of the year. While Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas, at Easter, they remember his death and the story of his resurrection (coming back to life). Christians believe that Jesus, the Son of God, rose from the dead, offering spiritual rebirth (new spiritual life) to all his followers.

Here is the Easter story: Jesus had become a powerful teacher and leader. Although he was popular with his many followers, he angered many other people. He went to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover with his 12 disciples (close followers). While there, an angry group of priests and elders took Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor. The crowds wanted Pilate to kill Jesus. Pilate agreed. Jesus was nailed to a cross on a Friday, now known as Good Friday. (Some say this name comes from “God’s Friday.” Others think “Good” refers to “holy.”)

After Jesus died, his body was taken to a tomb. A large round stone was rolled in front of the opening. On Sunday morning, two of his followers, Mary and Mary Magdalene, found his tomb empty. They received a sign that Jesus was alive. His rising from the dead is the central event of the Easter celebration. According to the Bible, Jesus spent 40 days with his disciples before returning to heaven. In many languages, the name of this holiday comes from the Hebrew word for Passover (Pesach). But the English name comes from the goddess of spring, Eostre. Eostre was honored in Germany and England in a celebration of the vernal equinox (the day when both day and night are exactly 12 hours long).

In Western Christian churches, Easter is the Sunday following the first full moon after March 21 (or the “ecclesiastical vernal equinox”). This year Easter is April 5.

It is traditional to dye eggs at Easter time and display them in a basket. German immigrants to the US brought this custom. To try it, buy a [food-safe] dye kit in any supermarket at Easter time and follow the very easy directions.

Hard-boil the eggs first. Or punch a small hole in one end of an uncooked egg, piercing the yolk. Punch a larger hole (3-4mm) in the other end. Blow into the smaller hole, holding the egg over a bowl. The yolk and white will come out, into the bowl. Wash the shell carefully then dye it. It will last for years!

Good Friday (April 3 this year) is a government holiday in some states. Stores and businesses may be closed. Easter is not an official federal holiday (although it is always a Sunday, so government offices are closed anyway). The Monday after Easter is not generally observed as a holiday in the US as it is in some other countries. Gift- and card-giving are not traditional parts of the season (but the stores will certainly try to convince you otherwise). Many families gather for Easter dinner.

More Americans of Christian belief or descent go to church on Easter Sunday than on any other day except perhaps at Christmas. If you are interested in learning about the Christian religion in the US, Easter would be a good time to visit a church. There will be many visitors there, and you would be welcome