ALT-1 The History of Easter Celebrations
I am not sure where some people are getting their information about the origins of Easter, but researching the history of this holiday is not all that difficult. In fact, it's quite a simple holiday in basis, although it is the most important of the Christian calendar, one from which other holidays are marked.
As with almost all Christian holidays, Easter has its roots, including its name, in Pagan celebrations.
At the vernal Equinox the Tuetonic goddess, Eostre, awoke from her winter slumber and her return was celebrated. She brought light and warmth to the world-Spring, and with it, new growth . Varying accounts say Eostre was the goddess of the moon, since she was celebrated at the first full moon of vernal Equinox, of fertility or of Spring. Rabbits were a part of this ritual as a symbol of fertility as are eggs, which were brightly painted to represent the returning sun.
Passover is the celebration of the Israelites flight from slavery in Egypt and it was this dinner, called a "Seder", that came to be referred to as Christ's "Last Supper". Yes, Christ was jewish and kept his given religion's traditions. The word, Passover is found in the Old Testament,Exodus 12:13, but is also a derivative of the Hebrew "Pesah" or "Pesach"-passing over.
Early Christians were actually Jews who believed in the prophecies of Christ; they kept their traditions, including the Passover Seder that Christ had and regarded the (now) Christian Easter as a new feature of Passover.
In the effort to convert Pagans to Christianity, many of their rituals were incorporated into the new Christian holiday, including the "Easter bunny", painted eggs and, of course, the name "Easter". The time of year was kept as well. Easter Sunday is always the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal Equinox. The holiday can occur any time between March 22 and April 25. It is from this point of the moon's cycle that Lent and Advent are calculated.
The Pagan connection to Christianity can not be ignored, for it is this connection that brings both the joy of Easter and its now Christian rituals to the modern world.
