The web definition is given thus:

Eas·ter (e'st?r)
n.
A Christian feast commemorating the Resurrection of Jesus.
The day on which this feast is observed, the first Sunday following the full moon that occurs on or next after the vernal equinox.
Eastertide.
[Middle English ester, from Old English eastre.]

The Encyclopaedia evokes: [from A.S. Eastre, name of a spring goddess]

Very informative but nothing new. From whence did this word come from (latin, greek)?? And why Easter??? Is there a connection with pagan festivities as there are with autumnal festivities such as Hallowe'en (Samhain)?

Apologies if this has been covered before and I'm yarting.