Easter - Its Origins and Relationship to Pagans and Passover

I'm confused about Easter, how about you? ThereEaster Sunday is the date when a group of his
seems to be much scholarly discourse that links thefemale followers first noticed that the tomb was
Christian tradition of Easter to the Jewish tradition ofempty, and concluded that he had been resurrected.
Passover and to certain Pagan rituals and beliefs thatThe timing of the Christian celebration of Easter is
came before them. There is even some dispute overlinked to the Jewish celebration of Passover. The
the actual date of Christ's death and resurrection, butname Passover was derived from the angel of death
the faith that each of us hold in our hearts cannot bepassing over homes of Jews, which were marked,
in dispute. This I believe.with the blood of a lamb thus sparing the first born
The name Easter may have first been associatedof such homes. Liberal Theologians link Passover to
with an ancient Goddess, The Venerable Bede,ancient pre-Israelite Pagan rituals practiced by
(672-735). She was the mother Goddess of thewandering Semitic shepherds in celebration of an
Saxon people in Northern Europe who was known asagricultural harvest using unleavened bread.
Eastra.Passover was the most important feast of the
Many Pagan religions in the Mediterranean area had aJewish calendar, celebrated around the 22nd of
major seasonal day of religious celebration followingMarch. The Synoptic gospels of Mark, Mathew, and
the Spring Equinox. Cybele, the Phrygian fertilityLuke stated that Jesus' last supper was a Seder or
goddess had a fictional consort named Attis whoPassover celebration.
was believed to have been born in a virgin birth andMost Christians believe that Jesus Christ was
to have died and been resurrected each year duringexecuted and buried just before the beginning of
the March 22 to March 25th period around 200 B.C.Passover on Friday evening. A minority believes that
Wherever Christian worship of Jesus and Paganthe execution occurred on a Wednesday or
worship of Attis were active in the same area atThursday. Some liberal Christians have suggested that
around the same time, Christians and Pagans used tothe early Christian Church arbitrarily selected Passover
quarrel about which of their gods was the true one.as the time thus allowing them to link the most
Some religious historians believe that the death andimportant religious days in Judaism and Christianity.
resurrection legends were first associated with AttisWhatever your personal beliefs are, whatever the
many centuries before the birth of Christ. One theoryactual dates are, don't let the skeptics amongst us
is that they were simply grafted onto stories ofdeter you from celebrating your religious beliefs and
Jesus' in order to make Christian theology moretraditions. Don't let those of little faith keep you from
acceptable to Pagans.believing.
My own opinion is that we shouldn't worry too muchEaster is a Christian Festival, which celebrates Christ's
about what the experts say. I think its what you feelResurrection. Today eggs are decorated and
in your heart and soul that counts at this holy time ofexchanged with friends and family to commemorate
year. I think it's your family traditions, your personalthe unification of all God's children. In ancient times
beliefs, and the religious rituals you have grown upeggs were exchanged to symbolize the continuance
with that really matter.of life after death. Early Christianity is thought to
Easter has Judeo-Christian origins. The life of Jesushave adopted the idea and incorporated it into their
Christ as recorded in the gospels includes theEaster celebration. Let the celebration continue.
Christian version of this theme. Good Friday isPlease feel free to use this article as long as credit is
observed in remembrance of Jesus' execution by angiven to the resource box.
occupying Roman army, and his burial in a cave.