The answer is: False

Easter as we know it was not celebrated in the 1st century. The first century Christians remembered the death and resurrection of Christ through the breaking of bread and the drinking of wine on a regular basis, instituted by Christ himself at the 'Last Supper' - effectively making an annual celebration of Easter unnecessary and an addition to God's Word. See Mark 7:6-9.

In the early days of Christianity, gatherings were all about community and remembrance rather than festival planning as we see with Easter festivities today. First-century Christians focused on the simple act of breaking bread and sharing wine, a practice with roots in the teachings of Jesus during that iconic Last Supper. This communal meal—not a one-off event—was their direct way to honor the sacrifice and resurrection of Christ regularly. In a way, every meal they shared was a mini-Easter!

Interestingly, the term “Easter” itself is thought to have pagan roots linked to spring fertility celebrations, reinforcing how different human cultures have transformed biblical observances. The original idea of the Feast of the Resurrection dates much later on the church calendar—around the second century AD—reiterating that as Christianity evolved, customs adapted to meet the cultural, liturgical, and spiritual needs of evolving communities.

The early Church heavily emphasized the spiritual essence of resurrection without the embellished trappings we often associate with modern Easter, such as bonnets and bunny rabbits. Even though formal celebrations were absent, there was a mouthful of scripture connected to resurrection—from Psalm 16 closely prophesying Jesus' model resurrection to Paul’s epistles that expound on the significance of living in that resurrected light.

Reflecting on these origins allows us to appreciate the continuity of Christian faith while acknowledging the ways it morphs and evolves through cultural lenses.