when was easter first celebrated

Easter was likely first celebrated by Christians in the mid-2nd century CE , with the earliest surviving reference appearing in a Paschal homily attributed to Melito of Sardis. By then, it was already described as a well-established observance.

Quick Scoop

• Earliest clear evidence: mid-2nd century CE.

• What it celebrated: the resurrection of Jesus, developing from early Christian observance of Passover/Pascha.

• Later standardization: the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE helped shape how Easter’s date was calculated.

If you want, I can also give you a super short version or a simple timeline of how Easter developed.