For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Steven Best
Regarding the word, Easter, appearing in the King James version, this is explained in "Lewis' History of the English Bible and the Men behind the KJV." Gustavus Paine therein documented the restrictions laid upon King James' translators, which included the fact they could only use the common ecclesiastical terminology used in England (much derived from its Catholic heritage), with no marginal notes. Hence, "church" was used rather than "congregation," and "Easter," rather than "Passover."
Ron Maurizio
The problem is, 'what we accept today we will embrace tomorrow.' (I can not remember who said this first.)
Let the pagans do their pagan thing, but as for us Christians, well we all know what happens when you add a little leaven.
Robert Cooper
What a fantastic topic to peel back the layers of. The very word EASTER says much. The traditions of man are entrapments, as is the use of the word "Easter." I will not use the word Easter, but resurrection. Praise be to God who leads us into triumph!
Angel karing
This is a recent excerpt from One for Israel's article:
WHY ARE PASSOVER AND EASTER CELEBRATED AT DIFFERENT TIMES?...the Council of Nicea in AD 325, took matters into their own hands and changed Passover and broke away from the Jews:
“It was declared to be particularly unworthy for this, the holiest of all festivals, to follow the custom[the calculation] of the Jews, who had soiled their hands with the most fearful of crimes, and whose minds were blinded. In rejecting their custom, we may transmit to our descendants the legitimate mode of celebrating Easter… We ought not, therefore, to have anything in common with the Jews, for the Savior has shown us another way…. we desire, dearest brethren, to separate ourselves from the detestable company of the Jews…” (From “Letter of the Emperor to all those not present at the Council: Eusebius, Vita Const., Lib. Iii., 18-20)
If these words are not shocking to you, they should be! The Nicean Council decided that they would celebrate a separate festival on the first new moon after the Spring Equinox, (which is always March 21st in the Gregorian Calendar) to make a deliberate break with the people of Israel. Easter doesn’t feature even once in the Bible. The King James Version erroneously translates the word Pascha (from the Aramaic for Passover) to Easter in Acts 12:4, but that is the closest we get. The English word “Easter” comes from “Eostre” – a goddess associated with Spring, and was co-opted for the name of the new festival to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus, which was decidedly NOT Passover.
https://www.oneforisrael.org/bible-based-teaching-from-israel/why-are-passover-and-easter-celebrated-at-different-times/