Pascha
/ˈpæs.kə/noun
An old Christian term for Easter, and in some traditions the Passover feast.
Did you know?Pascha ultimately comes from Hebrew Pesaḥ, the Passover feast, and its path through Greek and Latin helped turn a liberation ritual into the central name for Easter in many Christian traditions.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Hebrew
Heb
pesaḥ
“Passover; the festival commemorating Israel's deliverance from Egypt”
Ancient Greek
Grk
πάσχα (páscha)
“Passover; later used by Christians for Easter”
Late Latin
Lat
pascha
“Passover; Easter”
Old English
Eng
pasca / pasche
“The Christian feast of Easter”
Modern English
Eng
Pascha
“A liturgical term for Easter, especially in Eastern Christianity”