les Pâques

Definition & meaning

Pâques refers to the most significant festival in the Christian calendar, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Depending on the context, it can have two distinct uses:

1. The religious feast: It refers to Easter Sunday, the day of the resurrection.
2. The period: It often refers to the entire weekend or the liturgical season surrounding the event.

In secular or cultural contexts, it is also associated with the arrival of spring, characterized by traditions involving eggs, chocolate, and rabbits (the Easter Bunny).

Grammar & Word origin

• Grammar: In French, "Pâques" is a feminine noun, though it is almost exclusively used in the plural form when referring to the holiday itself. When referring to the Jewish Passover, the term used is "la Pâque" (singular).
• Word origin: The word comes from the Latin pascha, which itself is derived from the Hebrew pessah, meaning "to pass over" (referring to the Passover).

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

• Fête de la Résurrection[?](vocabuo://word/Fête de la Résurrection)
• Dimanche de Pâques[?](vocabuo://word/Dimanche de Pâques)

Antonyms: There are no direct antonyms for a religious holiday. However, in terms of the liturgical calendar, one might contrast it with the period of fasting and reflection:

• Carême↗