Most in mainstream Christianity today never question whether they should observe Easter or Passover. But in the second century, it was a highly debated issue. Known in history as “the Quartodeciman Controversy,” the debate centered on when and how to observe the Paschal feast.
Others, like Anicetus, the bishop of Rome, favored a Sunday celebration of Christ’s resurrection instead.
The matter was ultimately settled at the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325, which ruled in favor of a Sunday observance, leading to what became known as Easter.
Passover and Easter are not equivalent
Occasionally people try to equate Passover and Easter. So let’s take up the same question today. Does Easter convey the same meaning as the New Testament Passover? Do both truly honor Christ in the same way? Or is Passover merely a Jewish tradition with no relevance for Christians?
There are major differences between Passover and Easter. In fact, they are so major that they cannot be ignored or brushed aside.
Most people don’t know why they believe what they do. They simply follow traditions passed down by parents and society without understanding their origins. Yet both of these festivals carry symbols that reveal where they come from.
Passover and Easter have different symbols
What are the symbols of Passover? A Jew may point to the lamb and bitter herbs (Exodus 12:3-8). But when Christ kept the Passover just hours before His betrayal and arrest, He emphasized the following symbols:
- Foot washing.
- Unleavened bread.
- Wine.
There are major differences between Passover and Easter. In fact, they are so major that they cannot be ignored or brushed aside.
Those symbols are very different from the common symbols associated with Easter:
- Chocolate eggs.
- Bunnies.
- Hot cross buns
Why does Easter use these symbols? What do they have to do with Jesus’ resurrection? Why do the Passover and Easter have such diametrically opposite symbols?
Let’s examine the symbols more closely.
The Easter symbols of bunnies and eggs
As Easter approaches, supermarkets promote chocolate bunnies and eggs. But these symbols have nothing to do with either Jesus’ death or resurrection—so where do they come from?
Eggs have long symbolized fertility and renewal, with ancient cultures exchanging them during spring festivals to celebrate new life after winter’s dormancy.
Likewise, rabbits, known for their rapid reproduction, became associated with fertility and abundance. (To learn more, read “Do Bunnies Lay Eggs?”)
What is the origin of hot cross buns?
On March 23, 1947, The Sunday Star (Washington, D.C.) published an article titled “Hot Cross Buns for Easter,” by food writer Clementine Paddleford. While her focus was primarily on food, she examined the origins of the hot cross bun and its deeper cultural and historical significance.
Paddleford noted that hot cross buns date back to an ancient moon goddess, worshipped in different societies under various names: Selene, Luna, Diana, Astarte and Ishtar. (To learn more, read “Origin of Easter.”)
Hot cross buns date back to an ancient moon goddess, worshipped in different societies under various names.
Unable to eliminate the deeply rooted tradition, the Roman church adopted it, assigning it a new meaning. Over time, the cross on the bun became a symbol of Rome’s version of the Christian faith.
A similar custom existed in Jeremiah’s day, when God expressed dismay over the baking of cakes for the queen of heaven: “The children gather wood, the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven, and they pour out drink offerings to other gods, that they may provoke Me to anger” (Jeremiah 7:18, emphasis added).
Matthew Henry’s commentary states, “Their idolatrous respects are paid to the queen of heaven, the moon . . . They worshipped it probably under the name of Ashtaroth, or some other of their goddesses, being in love with the brightness . . . The worshipping of the moon was much in use among the heathen nations.”
Easter is one of various festivals observed around the world that bake cakes associated with the moon, honoring it to invoke a plentiful harvest. Many similar customs are still observed in Eastern religions and traditions across Asia.
- In China, mooncakes are made during the Mid-Autumn Festival under the brightest moon.
- In Korea, Chuseok is celebrated with half-moon-shaped rice cakes called songpyeon.
- In Japan, Tsukimi is marked with moonlike rice dumplings called Tsukimi dango.
- In India, Hindus celebrate Sharad Purnima by offering rice pudding under the moon’s supposedly healing light.
The biblical Passover symbols
The symbols of Passover stand out distinctly from the symbols of Easter and other pagan festivals.
During His final Passover, Jesus established unleavened bread and wine as its new symbols, clearly symbolizing His broken body and shed blood. He instructed His followers to “do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19).
The symbols of Passover stand out distinctly from the symbols of Easter and other pagan festivals.
Paul further guided us to observe it on the “same night in which He was betrayed”—the night of Passover (1 Corinthians 11:23).
To learn more, read “Passover: What Did Jesus Do for You?”
Furthermore, prior to establishing the bread and wine as symbols, Jesus washed His disciples’ feet, an act symbolizing His deep humility and attitude of self-sacrificial service—setting an example for us to do the same (John 13:14).
To learn more, read “What Is the Meaning of John 13:14—‘Wash One Another’s Feet’?”
Comparing Easter and Passover symbols
The symbols of Passover and Easter stand in stark contrast.
- Hot cross buns are a sweet, leavened cake, whereas the bread representing Christ’s body during the Passover is simple unleavened bread, symbolizing His sinless life and perfect sacrifice. (To learn more, read “What Is Leaven and What Does It Picture?”)
- Bunnies and eggs symbolize fertility and birth, which some try to link to Christ’s resurrection despite the Bible never making this connection. In contrast, Passover wine represents Christ’s death, serving as a memorial of His sacrifice—the shedding of His blood and the giving of His life for us.
- Jesus Christ is our Passover Lamb, sacrificed to deliver us from the penalty of eternal death (John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
- Rabbits are biblically unclean animals (Leviticus 11:6), and leaven was not to be offered on God’s altar (Leviticus 2:11). In contrast, lambs are biblically clean, making them a fitting symbol for Jesus Christ, and unleavened bread is connected to righteousness (1 Corinthians 5:8).
The Passover of Exodus 12 foreshadowed Christ’s sacrifice, which was fulfilled approximately 1,500 years later. Just as the lamb’s blood enabled the Israelites to be spared from death, so it foreshadowed our being saved from eternal death through Christ’s blood.
During His final Passover, Jesus established unleavened bread and wine as new symbols—representing His broken body and shed blood. He instructed us to “do this in remembrance of Me” (1 Corinthians 11:24-25).
At the Passover service, Christians proclaim the Lord’s death, which is the central focus of the Passover (verse 26). Although Christ’s resurrection holds great significance for us, neither Jesus nor any of the New Testament writers suggested it be observed as a festival or holiday.
The difference in timing between Passover and Easter
Some believe they are observing the equivalent of Passover during Easter by partaking of bread and wine, often referred to as Holy Communion or the Eucharist. But are they truly the same?
In Leviticus 23, the Passover is listed among the feasts of God—meaning He created them and they belong to Him (Leviticus 23:2, 4). Thus, the Passover, along with the other feasts, represents God’s appointed times for His people to gather. The Passover is set to be observed every year on the 14th day of the first month of the Hebrew calendar. (To learn more, read “The Seven Feasts of the Lord.”)
The symbols of Passover stand out distinctly from the symbols of Easter and other pagan festivals.
In contrast, Easter is designated as the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox, when the sun is positioned above the equator, making day and night nearly equal. If this full moon falls on a Sunday, Easter is observed the following Sunday.
History clearly records that this dating method was established by the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325, and was intentionally set to ensure Easter never coincided with the Passover. It is a designation created by men—not God or the Bible.
In stark contrast, Paul instructed us to observe Passover on the “same night in which He was betrayed” (1 Corinthians 11:23). Timing matters to God. He inspired Paul to instruct Christians keep the Passover on the same night of His betrayal—which was the evening beginning Nisan 14 on the Hebrew calendar.
To do something different is to add to or subtract from His Word, which the Bible strongly condemns (Revelation 22:18-19; Deuteronomy 4:2).
To learn more about the correct timing of the biblical Passover, read “When Should the Passover Be Observed.”
The Bible vs. tradition
Nothing about how Easter is kept comes from the Bible.
The symbols are different!
The meaning is different!
The timing is different!
Easter’s symbols, meaning and timing lack biblical grounding and stem from pagan practices.
Although modern Christianity tries to mask its pagan foundations by overlaying it with a Christian facade, God does not embrace it. God despises and prohibits syncretism, the fusion of two belief systems into one (Deuteronomy 12:30-32).
Elijah encountered a similar issue with the ancient Israelites, when they merged Baal worship with the true faith. He challenged them, declaring, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him” (1 Kings 18:21). In other words, pick the true God or Baal, but you can’t blend the two together.
Today, we might express Elijah’s message like this: choose authentic Christianity or paganism, but don’t try to combine them. You cannot worship the true God with pagan practices.
Which path will you take?
Photo credits:
Liudmila Chernetska/iStock via Getty Images
Mediaphotos/iStock via Getty Images
John Shepherd/iStock via Getty Images
Date Posted: April 11, 2025
About the Author
Isaac Khalil
Isaac Khalil is husband to his lovely wife, Natasha, and father to son Eli and daughter Abigal. He loves to spend time with family and friends doing various things like watching movies, playing chess, playing board games and going out. He enjoys studying biblical topics and discussing the Bible with his friends. He is also a news junkie and is constantly reading and sharing news connected with Bible prophecy.
