It is always good to know the origins of meanings. What happened: Resurrection Day vs. Easter Day. While it is most important what the word means in your heart, technically speaking, if you don't agree with something, one should make their expressions clear so this won't be confused or misconstrued as acceptance. For those who didn't know, here is some informational background.
Easter Day:1. Linguistics Analysis Easter (in the news). 2. The best dictionary definition of Easter is found in the root of its meaning from the mythical goddess: EOSTRE (also known as Ostara or Ishtar), a goddess of the dawn and spring. Wiki: Eostre
3. The King James Version (Acts 12:4) was the only account using the word `Easter`. In fact, this is one of the many points of great divide amongst many religious Christian institutions liberal/orthodox: (Catholics, Protestants, Mormons, Jehovah witnesses etc) of how, what and why "Easter" is recognized/celebrated. In fact, this was so severe that the NKJV (New King James Version)changed this completely.
Lost in Translation:
Acts 12:4 (New King James Version):
4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.
Acts 12:4 (King James Version)
4And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
Acts 12:4 (New International Version)
4After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.
Acts 12:4 (New Living Translation)
4 Then he imprisoned him, placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover.
A place called Easter Island:
The island known as Rapa Nui and Easter Island. The local Polynesians practiced cannibalism (eating humans). Some say it was for survival after the explorers arrived other accounts discuss about special rites of passage involving cannibalism. As famine set in, the rites of passage were transformed into survival necessities. Originally, the name "Easter Island" was given by the island's first recorded European visitor, a Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen who encountered it on Easter Sunday 1722. He named it Passch-Eyland (17th century Dutch word for "Easter Island". One thing led to the next and the Spaniards followed through with the name Isla de Pascua, "Island of the Easter" .
Resurrection Day:
noun:
- The act of rising from the dead or returning to life.
- The state of one who has returned to life.
- The act of bringing back to practice, notice, or use; revival.
- ResurrectionChristianity.
- The rising again of Jesus on the third day after the Crucifixion.
- The rising again of the dead at the Last Judgment.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin resurrēctiō, resurrēctiōn-, from Latin resurrēctus, past participle of resurgere, to rise again. See resurge.]
These are references from the four disciples of Jesus (Matthew, Mark, Luke & John) translated in the New International Version of the Holy Bible. These are their accounts on The Day of Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the only Son of God who was sent in the form of man and died for their sins.
Matthew 28 (New International Version)
Matthew 28
The Resurrection
1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."
8So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."
The Guards' Report
11While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.
12When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money,
13telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.'
14If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble."
15So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.
The Great Commission
16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.
17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.
18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."