Most commonly, Easter is understood to include Good Friday and Easter Sunday, which are three days apart. However Easter truly refers to Easter Sunday - the day on which the resurrection of Jesus is remembered and celebrated.

Though Easter is traditionally more important, in modern society Christmas is promoted as the key Christian celebration and is celebrated with much more colour, music, gift giving and festivity.

Yet, amongst Christians, Easter is still given the higher importance. For many Christians who follow the liturgical calendar (the Church calendar), Easter is preceded by 40 days of fasting, and Good Friday and Easter Sunday are marked by Church services full of meaning and importance.

"Easter, the scholars tell us, is the oldest feast in the history of Christianity, but it really only came into focus as a distinct celebration in the late second century. The truth is that Easter, Resurrection, has been celebrated in the Church every Sunday since the first week after the resurrection itself." -Joan Chittister, The Liturgical Year