Suffice to say,  such traditions are highly varied across cultures. Serfs were tied to the land, and lived as virtual slaves to their lords. A Chinese folk tale tells of the story of the formation of the universe, which began began as an egg. Chickens were a popular source of protein for medieval people. In Medieval Europe, people were divided by class, the two most numerous were peasants and serfs. So enjoy those Easter bunnies and colored eggs, but just make sure your kids know they are merely symbols of the new life that comes from the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Well, it turns out Easter actually began as a pagan festival celebrating spring in the Northern Hemisphere, long before the advent of Christianity. It is, after all, the perfect example of fertility and the cycle of rebirth. Ostensibly about the Resurrection of Christ, the feast retains many of its pagan characterizations: eggs, rabbits, baby chickens, and so on are symbols of Germanic paganism associated with Eostre fertility goddess worshi… Most people donate because Catholic Online is useful. The good news is, the Easter egg in modern tradition does not come from paganism as popularly believed. The Easter Bunny followed German immigrants to the American colonies in the 18th century and the folklore spread across the United States. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited. The Easter egg as a symbol of the season dates back to Medieval Europe and the Lenten practices of that time. Those who claim that Easter is a pagan holiday usually mean that the word Easter is etymologically linked to the name of an ancient goddess or that various pagan groups also held ceremonies in the springtime. For example, the use of a tree with lights, the giving of gifts, feasting and the use of Easter eggs and bunnies were all common pagan practices. The good news is, the Easter egg in Christian tradition has a much humbler origin, and nothing to do with ancient pagan practices. The Easter egg is a Babylonian legend that claims the goddess Ishtar (aka Semiramis) fell from heaven in an egg. Specifically, people refrained from all meat and dairy products during the entire 40 days of Lent, and this included eggs. Hislop proposed that this period of 40 days comes from the fasting that followed the Babylonian worship of Tammuz, who was honored by a period of weeping.3 Hislop cited current examples of this practice, but there is still no clear connection through time to the practice in the Christian community. This legend became part of American folklore in the 18th century, when and influx of Germans emigrated to the U.S. Today, the Easter business is a huge commercial venture. Neither claim carries much weight. From the Valentine Democrat, April 9, 1903. Posted 14 Apr April 2017 Fri Friday 14 Apr April 2017 at 11:30pm Share An easter egg is also the name of something secret added in computer programs, such as a joke, a picture, or a message that can be uncovered. They would kill the infants and dye eggs in their blood. “The spring equinox is a day where the amount of dark and the amount of daylight is … And the Easter bunny? History. Finding a delicious chocolate egg was a rich reward. The upper portion became the sky and cosmos, and the lower half became the earth and sea. But where did Easter come from? (Encyclopedia Britannica, Babylon Mystery Religion) Stay up to date with the latest news, information, and special offers. As such, eggs have been important symbols in other religious traditions, and not just in Christianity. The good news is, the Easter egg in Christian tradition has a much humbler origin, and nothing to do with ancient pagan practices. Peasants were traditionally more free, and some became prosperous, a sort of primitive middle-class in medieval society. The locals would then find eggs in the hare's form. Perfectly pagan Easter eggs As a result, many eggs were lost during the early part of the season. Easter eggs are a traditional part of modern Easter celebrations, but their origins are shrouded in history, raising questions about their use in Christian celebrations. Origin of Easter: From pagan festivals and Christianity to bunnies and chocolate eggs . The character of the "Easter bunny" first appeared in 16th-century German writings, which said that if well-behaved children built a nest out of their caps or bonnets, they would be rewarded with colored eggs. Pagan Easter Goddess Ostera. People were unable to catch birds, as they were the god's chosen animals, but they could collect the eggs, which were considered magical things indeed. Some of these traditions have even evolved into new traditions such as the annual White House Easter Egg Roll here in the United States which began in 1876. As Pan Gu grew bigger and more powerful, the gap between earth and sky increased, and soon they were separated forever. In addition to feeding at night, the hare's gestation period is approximately 28 days, which is the same length as a full lunar cycle. But what about all the Easter bunnies, eggs and family egg hunts, you ask? Does it matter ? But what is the true m Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Christian’s justify eggs as an Easter treat because they were prohibition during Lent. Since Christianity was heavily influenced by Roman paganism, which it supplanted, many have accused the egg of being a pagan symbol. Those who love truth… Ukrainian Easter eggs are called pysanky, which derives from the verb for “to write.”The practice of decorating eggs dates back to pagan times. ABC Radio Canberra / By Penny Travers. While Easter, as we know it today, was never a pagan festival , its roots and many of its traditions have associations with ancient pagan customs and beliefs. The exact number might be even higher than that. Oestre is the Teutonic goddess of spring and dawn who is very closely associated with the Vernal Equinox. Did you know that the U.S. goes through an estimate of 180 million eggs around Easter each year? As already noted above, there is no evidence linking Ishtar to eggs, rabbits or hares, despite the claims to that effect. For the Pagan Easter customs, where hares and eggs have been symbolised new physical life, the Christian Easter celebrates the new spiritual life. It appears likely that Christian celebration eventually borrowed certain traditions from pagan holidays. Is this true? In some early cultures, the nocturnal hare was actually considered a symbol of the moon. 98% of our readers don't give; they simply look the other way. “PHOTOS: The Pagan And Christian Roots Of The Easter Egg.”, Filippone, Peggy Trowbridge. Instead, it seems to be a more middle eastern tradition. The "buns," known by that identical name, were used in the worship of the "queen of heaven," the goddess Easter, as early as the days of Cecrops, the founder of Athens, 1500 years before Christ. In the wild, hares birth their young in what is known as a form–basically, a nest for bunnies. Bunnies are a leftover from the pagan festival of Eostre, a great northern goddess whose symbol was a rabbit or hare. The next year those infants would be 3 months old. Ostara is essentially the pagan incarnation of the traditional Christian Easter. In many cultures, the egg is viewed as the symbol of new life. When the hares abandoned a form, it was sometimes taken over by plovers, who would then lay their eggs in it. Dressed in your Sunday best and basket in hand, you ran through the grass hoping to fill your basket with eggs before the others did. Easter is known for its bunny rabbits, colored eggs, hot cross buns, and the return of springtime. Bunnies are a leftover from the pagan festival of Eostre.” Hot cross buns are related to “Israelites baking sweet buns for an idol, and religious leaders trying to put a stop to it.” Eventually, “defiant cake-baking pagan women” were successful and a cross was added to the buns to Christianize them. The holiday often involves a church service at sunrise, a feast which includes an "Easter Ham", decorated eggs and stories about rabbits. Wiccan/Pagan Holydays: Web page discussing the Vernal Equinox and Wiccan and Pagan holidays, such as Easter; History of Lent: Learn about the origin of Lent and if the church had celebrated Lent before the time of Easter. Is it ok to celebrate Yehovah with Easter eggs and bunnies? The good news is, the Easter egg in Christian tradition has a much humbler origin, and nothing to do with ancient pagan practices. Because sunrise at the beginning of spring was the holiest day in the Mithraic calendar (next to December 25), the practice of Easter … Satan acts as a counterfeiter—he is the father of lies (John 8:44). But according to Professor Hutton, there is justification in regarding Easter eggs and the Easter bunny as rooted in paganism. Mary Magdalene and the red eggs aren't the earliest examples of eggs as a spring symbol. Christian’s justify eggs as an Easter … Lent is the period of 40 days leading up to the Easter feast. Eggs, like many traditions that were tied to the fertility of the earth and cycles of the season, became associated with Easter as pagan traditions were absorbed. The Pagan Roots of Easter. The character of the "Easter bunny" first appeared in 16th-century German writings, which said that if well-behaved children built a nest out of their caps or bonnets, they would be rewarded with colored eggs. The Easter Bunny: A Pagan symbol?Easter bunny Postcard. It's wild to think about, but with so many traditions surrounding eggs for the holiday, it's not surprising.. For those of you as curious about these Easter gems as I am, let's take a more in-depth look. The only time the word “Easter” is found in the Bible (Acts 12:4), it is there by mistranslation. From the Valentine Democrat, April 9, 1903. Just as American culture secularized Christmas, Easter has become secular. A deity named Pan Gu formed inside the egg, and then in his efforts to get out, cracked it into two halves. The Easter egg hunt now involves plastic eggs filled with candy and toys, chocolate filled eggs and bunnies, and painted hard boiled eggs, all of which make for a day of family fun. Many ancient pagan cultures exchanged eggs as a celebration of the changing season into spring and the blessing of fertility. The customs of Easter involving bunnies, colored eggs, candles, and lilies were all adapted from pagan religions, as was the name Easter itself. Christians and non-Christians alike celebrate Easter in decidedly non-Christian ways: with chocolate and other forms of Easter candy, Easter eggs, Easter egg hunts, the Easter bunny, and so forth. Easter Eggs: Pagan Ritual or Christian Symbol? Fact 2: Commemorating Good Friday as Jesus’ crucifixion and celebrating Easter Sunday as His resurrection contradict the only sign He gave that He was the Messiah! In early Christian cultures, consumption of the Easter egg may have marked the end of Lent. Suddenly, the bowl of eggs turned red, and Mary Magdalene joyfully began preaching Christianity to the emperor. To this day, certain churches will only allow their eggs to be dyed one color… blood red. Is Easter pagan? It's wild to think about, but with so many traditions surrounding eggs for the holiday, it's not surprising.. For those of you as curious about these Easter gems as I am, let's take a more in-depth look. As for Easter eggs and bunnies, there is little evidence that modern Christians lifted these symbols from pagans. Winick was able to track down the earliest mentions of this Pagan myth in print, which was in the 19th century, but there’s no trace of it’s apparent ancient origins. Yes - God’s Word commands us to separate ourselves from false religion and to “worship the Father with spirit and truth.” Easter History. Few people realize that Easter is not about the resurrection of Christ. In Iran, the colored eggs are placed on the dinner table at No Ruz, and a mother eats one cooked egg for each child she has. Wikimedia Commons. This tradition stems from a pre-Christian custom in which eggs were covered in wax and decorated in honor of the sun god Dazhboh. Easter eggs, also called Paschal eggs, are eggs that are sometimes decorated. If Catholic Online has given you $5.00 worth of knowledge this year, take a minute to donate. Easter eggs are a widely popular symbol of new life in Russia, Romania, Ukraine, Poland and other east European countries’ folk traditions. None of these things have anything to do with the resurrection of Jesus, which Easter purports to represent. The notion that the Easter Bunny is a pagan symbol developed in the 19th century. Today, we humbly ask you to defend Catholic Online's independence. First, we’ll consider the idea that Easter is a pagan holiday because the name Easter has pagan origins. The Pagan Origin Of Easter The Pagan Cross of Tammuz and the Pagan Trinity - The TRUTH behind the Christopaganism by Rav Sha'ul . Many of the traditions and symbols we now associate with Easter, such as eggs and rabbits, do have their origins in pre-Christian pagan rituals. Even though the etymological root of the word Easter may be linked to the name of a pagan goddess or pagan ceremonies, the feast which the word describes is Christian without question. Advent Reflection - Day 25 - The Fourth Wednesday of Advent, 5 Ways to keep Jesus in your Christmas celebrations this year. There is worry they are symbols of paganism. The holiday often involves a church service at sunrise, a feast which includes an "Easter Ham", decorated eggs and stories about rabbits. Do you remember the excitement of your first Easter egg hunt? READ MORE: Does the Easter Bunny have pagan origins? The emperor's response was along the lines of "Oh, yeah, right, and those eggs over there are red, too." Although there have been claims that Easter eggs came from the pagan symbols, there is no solid evidence for this. Easter Eggs. The exact origin of this tradition is clouded by history, but there are two likely origins. READ MORE: Are Easter Eggs pagan or Christian? This left eggs as a ready source of protein for both peasants and humble serfs. Americans spend nearly $1.2 billion a year on Easter candy, and another $500 million on Easter decorations each year. It was a common way for people to break their strict Lenten fasts, and as such became a prominent symbol of the season. But what does this imply? The exact number might be even higher than that. A direct link to Easter Eggs and Pagan Rome can be found in a legend surrounding the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. If you are one of our rare donors, you have our gratitude and we warmly thank you. Tags: 2500 bc abraham attis birth christ christians cybele easter easter orthodox easter tradition Egypt egypt god ezekiel false god god god story isaac ishtar Jesus jesus resurrection life name easter old testament pagan easter story pagan god passover resurrection six months story tammuz tradition virgin birth. Saint of the Day for Wednesday, Dec 23rd, 2020, Padre Nuestro - Our Father (Lord's Prayer). Most of what people commonly associate with Easter is pagan in origin; the rest is commercial. Most cultural references to Easter include these elements, most of which are pagan in origin and all of which have become commercialized. As a result, the egg became a symbol of the holiday for the common people. In return they provided eggs and meat which often served as the primary source of protein for these people. Pagan Easter Goddess Ostera. 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