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| I took this last spring from the tree in our back yard. |
Today, people celebrate Easter by marking the resurrection of the Christian demigod, The Christ, Yeshua of Nazareth. Easter is one of the most celebrated holidays in modern Christendom. The name Easter originally came from Eostre. Eostre is the ancient Greek goddess of spring. Greek Pagans held festivals every year to honor her, because she returned, bringing with her, the light of day. This festival marked the return of longer days. This celebration coincided with the vernal equinox. All ancient pagans, world wide, practiced some kind of vernal equinox celebration, ether as a major holy day, or a minor day of celebration, celebrating the beginning of the planting season.
Christian leaders changed the pagan holiday into the celebration of the resurrection of their Christ, Yeshua of Nazareth. The Church Council of Nicaea decided, Instead of holding the holiday on the spring equinox, they changed the date in 325 AD, to celebrate Easter on the first Sunday, following the first full moon, after the vernal equinox. Because of their decision, the date of the Easter holiday differs from year to year. It can be celebrated as early as March 22nd or as late as April 25th.
Easter consists of several Christian holy days. Forty days before Easter is Ash Wednesday. This begins the season of Lent, which ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday. Christians know the week, which lasts from Palm Sunday to Easter, Sunday as “Holy Week”. Good Friday marks the death of their Christ, Yeshua of Nazareth, while Easter marks His resurrection.
Many symbols of Easter, which include eggs, rabbits, chicks, lilies, sunrise services, and a new outfit of clothing originated from early pagan sources. Eggs represent the beginning of life were first coloured by pagans to resemble the returning sunlight as well as the aurora borealis. In later years, an ancient Christian legend told of the Virgin Mary giving eggs to the Roman soldiers as she begged them not to crucify her son, but this legend is not from credible, original, biblical texts.
Rabbits and chicks represent the rebirth of the earth in most (if not all) ancient pagan traditions. The lily, specifically the White Lily, (which is also known as the “Easter Lily”), is a symbol of the reincarnation in some pagan traditions. Its whiteness symbolizes the purity of new life that comes from rebirth. It is also a Christian tradition, symbolizing the resurrection of the Christian Christ, Yeshua of Nazareth. A new Easter outfit also symbolizes the beginning of a new life. Many Christian churches today, practice The Sunrise services. Christian leaders borrowed this practice from the ancient pagans, when pagans celebrated the rising of the sun. Christians borrowed Easter, from many pagan practices and forms. Christians modified Easter slightly (in some cases quite a bit), repackaged and renamed it, from the original pagan roots. The ancient Christian church did this to make conversion into Christianity easier. (But that is for another discussion, for another time).
Christian leaders changed the pagan holiday into the celebration of the resurrection of their Christ, Yeshua of Nazareth. The Church Council of Nicaea decided, Instead of holding the holiday on the spring equinox, they changed the date in 325 AD, to celebrate Easter on the first Sunday, following the first full moon, after the vernal equinox. Because of their decision, the date of the Easter holiday differs from year to year. It can be celebrated as early as March 22nd or as late as April 25th.
Easter consists of several Christian holy days. Forty days before Easter is Ash Wednesday. This begins the season of Lent, which ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday. Christians know the week, which lasts from Palm Sunday to Easter, Sunday as “Holy Week”. Good Friday marks the death of their Christ, Yeshua of Nazareth, while Easter marks His resurrection.
Many symbols of Easter, which include eggs, rabbits, chicks, lilies, sunrise services, and a new outfit of clothing originated from early pagan sources. Eggs represent the beginning of life were first coloured by pagans to resemble the returning sunlight as well as the aurora borealis. In later years, an ancient Christian legend told of the Virgin Mary giving eggs to the Roman soldiers as she begged them not to crucify her son, but this legend is not from credible, original, biblical texts.
Rabbits and chicks represent the rebirth of the earth in most (if not all) ancient pagan traditions. The lily, specifically the White Lily, (which is also known as the “Easter Lily”), is a symbol of the reincarnation in some pagan traditions. Its whiteness symbolizes the purity of new life that comes from rebirth. It is also a Christian tradition, symbolizing the resurrection of the Christian Christ, Yeshua of Nazareth. A new Easter outfit also symbolizes the beginning of a new life. Many Christian churches today, practice The Sunrise services. Christian leaders borrowed this practice from the ancient pagans, when pagans celebrated the rising of the sun. Christians borrowed Easter, from many pagan practices and forms. Christians modified Easter slightly (in some cases quite a bit), repackaged and renamed it, from the original pagan roots. The ancient Christian church did this to make conversion into Christianity easier. (But that is for another discussion, for another time).
