Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It’s the transition that’s troublesome. - Isaac Asimov
Easter Sunday has arrived and, in suitable fashion, I have comments. My altruistic nature compels me to enlighten my dear readers. Ha!
Origins of Easter:
In most Christian religions Good Friday is observed in remembrance of Jesus' execution by the occupying Roman army, and his subsequent burial. Easter Sunday is supposedly the date his tomb was first discovered empty (resurrection). The timing of the Christian celebration of Easter is linked to the Jewish celebration of the Passover which is the most important feast of the Jewish calendar, celebrated at the first full moon after the Vernal (aka Spring) Equinox. The gospel of John has Jesus' last supper occurring at the beginning of Nisan 14 (Jewish days begin at sundown and continue until the next sundown) with Jesus dying that afternoon. This year Nisan 14 began at sundown on March 24th, so why isn't Jesus' death celebrated ("celebrated" because he died for our sins) on that specific day, you wonder? The answer to that question brings us to the pagan (and other) influences interwoven in the majority of Christian religions.
Long before organized religion, pagans celebrated the Spring Equinox as one of their 8 yearly Sabbats (holy days of celebration). Near the Mediterranean, this is a time of sprouting of the summer's crop; farther north, it is the time for seeding. Their rituals at the Spring Equinox are related primarily to the fertility of the crops and to the balance of the day and night times. It was believed that by observing this "holy day" the fertility of people and crops would be assured.
Early missionaries, hoping to convert pagans to Christianity, chose to combine many of the traditions of the Christian observance of the Resurrection of Christ, which occurred at roughly the same time of year, with the pagan feast of Eostre. The name "Easter" is believed to have originated with the names of an ancient Goddess and God. Specifically after Eostre (aka Eastre) who was the Great Mother Goddess of the Saxon people in Northern Europe. Similarly, the Teutonic dawn goddess of fertility was known Ostara which is derived from the ancient word for spring: "eastre."
Eggs and other symbols pre-date Christianity but, in the church's earliest days, these symbols were converted or "Christianized" in order to teach lessons of redemption and rebirth. It is believed that Easter bunnies and Easter eggs are derived from Pagan culture where the egg and hare were both symbols of fertility and new life. Ancient Egyptian, Persian, and Chinese civilizations also used the egg as an icon of fertility centuries before it became a symbol of Jesus' resurrection. The bunny connection with Easter probably was brought to England by Angles and Saxons who considered the rabbit, a prolific breeder, a symbol of fertility. The custom of eating hot cross buns is also said to have Pagan origins.
In summary this all boils down to two unrelated holy events that early missionaries combined in order to please the greatest amount of people.
No offense is intended by the above simply because what is, is, and I think this type of thing interesting to research. I also am rather puzzled by the fact that most Christians seem to be oblivious to the origins of the very holidays they celebrate. Personally, I find it rather bewildering that a religion that is supposed to be so pure and based solely on the teachings of the Bible as God's Word has let itself become so bastardized by the very religions and practices they condemn.
Origins of Easter:
In most Christian religions Good Friday is observed in remembrance of Jesus' execution by the occupying Roman army, and his subsequent burial. Easter Sunday is supposedly the date his tomb was first discovered empty (resurrection). The timing of the Christian celebration of Easter is linked to the Jewish celebration of the Passover which is the most important feast of the Jewish calendar, celebrated at the first full moon after the Vernal (aka Spring) Equinox. The gospel of John has Jesus' last supper occurring at the beginning of Nisan 14 (Jewish days begin at sundown and continue until the next sundown) with Jesus dying that afternoon. This year Nisan 14 began at sundown on March 24th, so why isn't Jesus' death celebrated ("celebrated" because he died for our sins) on that specific day, you wonder? The answer to that question brings us to the pagan (and other) influences interwoven in the majority of Christian religions.
Long before organized religion, pagans celebrated the Spring Equinox as one of their 8 yearly Sabbats (holy days of celebration). Near the Mediterranean, this is a time of sprouting of the summer's crop; farther north, it is the time for seeding. Their rituals at the Spring Equinox are related primarily to the fertility of the crops and to the balance of the day and night times. It was believed that by observing this "holy day" the fertility of people and crops would be assured.
Early missionaries, hoping to convert pagans to Christianity, chose to combine many of the traditions of the Christian observance of the Resurrection of Christ, which occurred at roughly the same time of year, with the pagan feast of Eostre. The name "Easter" is believed to have originated with the names of an ancient Goddess and God. Specifically after Eostre (aka Eastre) who was the Great Mother Goddess of the Saxon people in Northern Europe. Similarly, the Teutonic dawn goddess of fertility was known Ostara which is derived from the ancient word for spring: "eastre."
Eggs and other symbols pre-date Christianity but, in the church's earliest days, these symbols were converted or "Christianized" in order to teach lessons of redemption and rebirth. It is believed that Easter bunnies and Easter eggs are derived from Pagan culture where the egg and hare were both symbols of fertility and new life. Ancient Egyptian, Persian, and Chinese civilizations also used the egg as an icon of fertility centuries before it became a symbol of Jesus' resurrection. The bunny connection with Easter probably was brought to England by Angles and Saxons who considered the rabbit, a prolific breeder, a symbol of fertility. The custom of eating hot cross buns is also said to have Pagan origins.
In summary this all boils down to two unrelated holy events that early missionaries combined in order to please the greatest amount of people.
No offense is intended by the above simply because what is, is, and I think this type of thing interesting to research. I also am rather puzzled by the fact that most Christians seem to be oblivious to the origins of the very holidays they celebrate. Personally, I find it rather bewildering that a religion that is supposed to be so pure and based solely on the teachings of the Bible as God's Word has let itself become so bastardized by the very religions and practices they condemn.