The Origin Of Easter

On Easter weekend, those of the Christian faith celebrate the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Many people don't realize that Easter did not actually originate with Christianity. Continue reading to find out the true origin of Easter.

“Easter” was taken from “Eastre”. Eastre was the goddess that the Saxon people from the region of Northern Europe worshiped.. Ever year festivals were held to celebrate the Spring Equinox. The Equinox is the only day during the spring when both day and night are the same amount of time. It was a belief that having these festivals ensured that the land and the people habiting it were fertile.

Jewish faith people also celebrated Passover in and about the same time of the year in ancient times. The Passover feast commemorated the Israelite captivity in Egypt under the cruel hand of the pharaoh. The last plague that God sent on the land was that of the death of every firstborn. Blood on the doorposts of Israelite households spared them as the Angel of Death spread through the land.

At the same time Christians also began celebrating what is now known as Easter. Even after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, people who followed this early on were persecuted. What happened because of this is that they held their religious observances to happen at the same time as the pagan holidays. It was called Easter-a, another form of Eastre. The reasons behind both holidays are different, but they have some of the same symbols and traditions that are still in use today.

Easter Eggs - Eggs were used as part of celebrations long before the holiday of today. Eggs were used as symbols of rebirth. Much of the original meaning of the eggs are lost today as they are decorated and put in hiding places on Easter day as children do a search for them.

Easter Bunny - The symbol to represent Eastre, the Saxon goddess was a rabbit. Germans introduced the use of the bunny as part of the Christian tradition during the colonial period. The modern tradition is for parents to teach their children that the Easter bunny brings them Easter treats, almost like Saint Nick on Christmas Day.

The Cross- The cross has been used to represent Christianity since the first hundred years following Jesus' death. It is very much a symbol of how cruel the Roman Empire was thought to be. Today, those who practice Christianity view it as a badge of courage and salvation.

We hope this little history lesson will help you understand Easter traditions better and make it a little easier to answer your curious child's questions about why the Easter bunny brings eggs.

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