How did the Easter season come to last 50 days until Pentecost?

In the early Christian church, the entire 50-day period beginning with Easter was often referred to as Pentecost, a term derived from the Greek word for "50th day". This extended duration functioned as a unified Paschal season rather than two distinct events.12

The significance of this 50-day span was rooted in liturgical practice: baptism was administered at both the beginning of the season (Easter) and its conclusion (the day of Pentecost). Because this entire period was considered a time of celebration, the early church prohibited fasting or kneeling in prayer on all Sundays throughout these 50 days. While the season concludes with the Feast of Pentecost—which commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles—the tradition of viewing the 50 days as a singular, continuous festival reflects the early church's emphasis on the Resurrection and the subsequent mission of the church.12