Millions of Orthodox Christians worldwide, including about six million in North America, observe Easter, also known as Pascha, each year. It is estimated that there are more than 250 million Orthodox Christians in the world. It’s no use describing the Orthodox traditions of Easter for the hundredth time as almost every family celebrates it every year. So here are some interesting facts about the holiday that you probably haven’t heard of.
1. The name Easter comes from Eostre, an ancient Anglo-Saxon goddess, originally of the dawn. In pagan times an annual spring festival was held in her honour.
2. Easter always falls between March 22 and April 25.
3. In medieval times a festival of egg throwing was held in church, during which the priest would throw a hard-boiled egg to one of the choirboys. It was then tossed from one choirboy to the next and whoever held the egg when the clock struck 12 was the winner and retained the egg.
4. The exchange of eggs for Easter dates back to a springtime custom older than Easter itself in which eggs were given as a symbol of rebirth in many cultures.
5. Easter became the name of an island (now Easter Island) when the Dutch sea captain Jacob Roggeveen sailed to it on Easter Sunday, April 5, 1722. He was the first European to visit this island.
The Calendar of Orthodox Easter Days:

• in 2012 - April 15
  
• in 2013 - May 5
  
• in 2014 - April 20
  
• in 2015 - April 12
  
• in 2016 - May 1
  
• in 2017 - April 16
  
• in 2018 - April 8
  
• in 2019 - April 28
  
• in 2020 - April 19