Easter and it's pagan origins

[1ke]

I have become uncomfortable about celebrating Easter after reading various historical accounts of the original meaning of this festival, a spring fertility pagan goddess festival, dedicated throughout the world to Eastra,(Britian), Inanna,(Mesopotamis), the Canann Ishtar, Astarte

The word Easter is of Saxon origin, Eastra, the goddess of spring, in whose honour sacrifices were offered. The eggs and the bunny are ongoing symbols of fertility and rebirth.

I understand that this is how pagan festivities were ‘Christianised’ but there is evidence that the very earliest Christians, those who knew Jesus and the apostles, did not keep Easter, but Passover, as a memorial of his death, which is what he asked us to do at the last supper.

There was a whole group of 4th century, known as the Quartodecimans, who were excommunicated for insisting on Passover, with Christ as the memorial, and refusing to join with the Roman ‘easter’ which became mandatory at the council of Nicea in 325. Their leader, Polycrates wrote, “We for our part keep the day scrupulously, without addition or subtraction. For in Asia great luminaries sleep who shall rise again on the day of the Lord’s advent, when He is coming in glory from heaven and shall search out all the saints… All of these kept the fourteenth day of the month as the beginning of the Paschal festival, in accordance with the Gospel, not deviating in the least but following the rule of the Faith” ( The History of the Church, Eusebius, pages 230-231).

Keeping the previously pagan easter as the memory of Christ’s resurrection, makes me uncomfortable. Is it a contradiction of the biblical instruction regarding worship:

“When the Lord your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’ You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way; for every abomination to the Lord which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it” (Deuteronomy 12:29–32).

Should we not be celebrating the memorial of his death, what we now recall on Holy Thursday, with the washing of the feet and Communion, on the first eve of Passover,as by biblical reckoning, a day begins at sunset and ends with sunset the next day. It would make more Biblical sense, and keep the church apart from the worldly celebration. Jesus was a Jew, after all, and all his disciples, but their new Passover was Christ, as He is our Passover sacrifice.

I would be interested if any one else finds this idea appealing. Decided to keep a Passover meal in our house this year. It was beautiful.

What I find interesting is that you have accepted all of this anti-Catholic propaganda uncritically. You aren’t here asking whether or not these allegations are true. You’ve actually accepted them as true.

They aren’t.

And I think it is a shame that you would believe this and not research it. Ugh!!!

You don’t seem to know the history of your own faith. The Easter controversy, for example, is well documented. It was not a controversy over whether to celebrate Passover or Easter. It was a controversy over whether to celebrate Easter always on a Sunday or coinciding with Passover, which moves to different days of the week because it is a lunar feast.

PLEASE before you go off thinking the Church is “wrong” and should do something different – get some facts. Right now you don’t have ANY.

Why not read some actual Catholic sources instead of internet garbage?

 

[Bookcat]

I have become uncomfortable about celebrating Easter after reading various historical accounts of the original meaning of this festival, a spring fertility pagan goddess festival, dedicated throughout the world to Eastra,(Britian), Inanna,(Mesopotamis), the Canann Ishtar, Astarte

The word Easter is of Saxon origin, Eastra, the goddess of spring, in whose honour sacrifices were offered.

Jimmy Akin- Senior Apologist of Catholic Answers video answer responds to this misinformation that one sometimes hears:

jimmyakin.com/2012/04/video-is-easter-pagan.html

(he gets to the name in English around minute 4 - so you can fast forward to that point)

 

[Bookcat]

I have become uncomfortable about celebrating Easter after reading various historical accounts of the original meaning of this festival, a spring fertility pagan goddess festival, dedicated throughout the world to Eastra,(Britian), Inanna,(Mesopotamis), the Canann Ishtar, Astarte

The word Easter is of Saxon origin, Eastra, the goddess of spring, in whose honour sacrifices were offered.

Jimmy Akin- Senior Apologist of Catholic Answers video answer responds to this misinformation that one sometimes hears:

jimmyakin.com/2012/04/video-is-easter-pagan.html

(he gets to the name in English around minute 4 - so you can fast forward to that point…)

 

[Zeno11]

In the document The Jewish People and Their Scriptures in the Christian Bible the Pontifical Biblical Commission including Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger offer an introduction on the relationship between the Old and New Testaments in the Bible.

ewtn.com/library/CURIA/PBCJWSCR.HTM

Broadly, the document describes what stays the same from Old to New, what has changed, and there’s one more category that I don’t remember.

If you take Dt 12:29-32 too literally, then you become like the Samaritans, who only recognized the first five books of the Bible, the Torah. Yesterday was the start of Passover. Did you kill your goat or sheep and sprinkle your doorposts? And, why not?

Of course I didn’t kill a goat or sheep! I am talking about celebrating Passover as the memorial of Christ’s death. The events of the Exodus pictured what would be fulfilled later in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, is our Passover sacrifice. As the Apostle Paul reminded the Corinthians, “For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7) We shared unleavened bread and drank a some red wine. There was no need to sprinkle my doorposts with blood, because I am keeping a memorial of Jesus’ death, not the flight from Egypt. Are you being deliberately obtuse or just facetious?

 

[Autumn_Smoke]

We shared unleavened bread and drank a some red wine.

It would be really nice, if maybe for next year, you found out if there is a Messianic Congregation in London that was holding a public Seder. That way you could experience the whole ceremony and a good dinner too. I say Messianic, because they would relate the Passover to Jesus. It would be a blessing, and you would learn a lot.

It’s always nice to have it in your own home like you did, though, because it is supposed to be a family meal. You can go on-line and find a Messianic Haggadah, (the guide to use for Passover ceremonies)

 

[Bookcat]

It would be really nice, if maybe for next year, you found out if there is a Messianic Congregation in London that was holding a public Seder. That way you could experience the whole ceremony and a good dinner too. I say Messianic, because they would relate the Passover to Jesus. It would be a blessing, and you would learn a lot.

It’s always nice to have it in your own home like you did, though, because it is supposed to be a family meal. You can go on-line and find a Messianic Haggadah, (the guide to use for Passover ceremonies)

No I would not recommend such…

 

[Bookcat]

Of course I didn’t kill a goat or sheep! I am talking about celebrating Passover as the memorial of Christ’s death. The events of the Exodus pictured what would be fulfilled later in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, is our Passover sacrifice. As the Apostle Paul reminded the Corinthians, “For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7) We shared unleavened bread and drank a some red wine. There was no need to sprinkle my doorposts with blood, because I am keeping a memorial of Jesus’ death, not the flight from Egypt.

While we can learn from studying the Jewish Passover - most certainly…

Yes Christ is our Passover.

We celebrate his Passover at Pascha (Easter)…with grand form during the Triduum (and on Sundays- the Lords Day).

Splendidly - the Eucharist!

1340 By celebrating the Last Supper with his apostles in the course of the Passover meal, Jesus gave the Jewish Passover its definitive meaning. Jesus’ passing over to his father by his death and Resurrection, the new Passover, is anticipated in the Supper and celebrated in the Eucharist, which fulfills the Jewish Passover and anticipates the final Passover of the Church in the glory of the kingdom.

1365 Because it is the memorial of Christ’s Passover, the Eucharist is also a sacrifice. The sacrificial character of the Eucharist is manifested in the very words of institution: “This is my body which is given for you” and “This cup which is poured out for you is the New Covenant in my blood.” In the Eucharist Christ gives us the very body which he gave up for us on the cross, the very blood which he “poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c1a3.htm#1365

scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c1a3.htm#1340

While we can learn from the study of the Jewish Passover – the Eucharist is the rite of the Christians - celebrating the new Passover of the Resurrection of the Lord.

 

[Autumn_Smoke]

While we can learn from studying the Jewish Passover - most certainly…

Yes Christ is our Passover.

We celebrate his Passover at Pascha (Easter)…with grand form during the Triduum (and on Sundays- the Lords Day).

Splendidly - the Eucharist!

1340 By celebrating the Last Supper with his apostles in the course of the Passover meal, Jesus gave the Jewish Passover its definitive meaning. Jesus’ passing over to his father by his death and Resurrection, the new Passover, is anticipated in the Supper and celebrated in the Eucharist, which fulfills the Jewish Passover and anticipates the final Passover of the Church in the glory of the kingdom.

1365 Because it is the memorial of Christ’s Passover, the Eucharist is also a sacrifice. The sacrificial character of the Eucharist is manifested in the very words of institution: “This is my body which is given for you” and “This cup which is poured out for you is the New Covenant in my blood.” In the Eucharist Christ gives us the very body which he gave up for us on the cross, the very blood which he “poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c1a3.htm#1365

scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c1a3.htm#1340

While we can learn from the study of the Jewish Passover – the Eucharist is the rite of the Christians - celebrating the new Passover of the Resurrection of the Lord.

While I agree with what you’re saying, that the Eucharist is a fulfillment of the Passover, that is only a small portion of what Jesus did at the Passover dinner. So attending a Passover Seder is more of a learning experience than an attempt to fulfill any legal requirement. So if people want to experience this and learn more, they should be able to do so.

I know many churches, Catholic included, who have occasionally held Passover dinners and ceremonies as a teaching tool–one Catholic church I was involved with did it every year. People are interested in experiencing the Last Supper exactly as Jesus did. Drinking the 4 cups of wine, eating the bitter herbs, the whole ceremony–it is very meaningful. Many people feel the experience greatly adds to their understanding of where the Eucharist comes from and they feel it deepens their faith.

So while it may not be for everyone, there is nothing harmful in doing so.

 

[Bookcat]

While I agree with what you’re saying, that the Eucharist is a fulfillment of the Passover, that is only a small portion of what Jesus did at the Passover dinner. So attending a Passover Seder is more of a learning experience than an attempt to fulfill any legal requirement. So if people want to experience this and learn more, they should be able to do so.

Yes attending a Passover to learn what happens can be a good experience.

Such occurs in a Jewish Passover which is different from what was noted.

Catholic included, who have occasionally held Passover dinners and ceremonies as a teaching tool–one Catholic church I was involved with did it every year.

So while it may not be for everyone, there is nothing harmful in doing so.

Yes such is not a rite …not actual ceremonies …then but a demonstration - a teaching and learning experience (and great care must be taken here…).

 

[Crusaderbear]

Bunnies and eggs have nothing to do with christian easter! The WORST you can say is eater was superimposed on a pagan feast to help disrupt the pagan influence. Easter commemorates Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice for the human species, it has real origins based in specific events ate the beginning of the Christian Era (CE). You might want to give more weight to that in your search for ‘facts’.

 

[phil19034]

It would be really nice, if maybe for next year, you found out if there is a Messianic Congregation in London that was holding a public Seder. That way you could experience the whole ceremony and a good dinner too. I say Messianic, because they would relate the Passover to Jesus. It would be a blessing, and you would learn a lot.

It’s always nice to have it in your own home like you did, though, because it is supposed to be a family meal. You can go on-line and find a Messianic Haggadah, (the guide to use for Passover ceremonies)

I would stay away from Messianic Jews. They are really anti-Catholic, fundamentalist protestants. One could seek out Hebrew Catholics though, but I’m not sure if they are organized in the UK.

I recommend visiting hebrewcatholic.net/. They are in communion with the Pope and faithful to the Magisterium.

God Bless

 

[JanetF]

I have become uncomfortable about celebrating Easter after reading various historical accounts of the original meaning of this festival, a spring fertility pagan goddess festival, dedicated throughout the world to Eastra,(Britian), Inanna,(Mesopotamis), the Canann Ishtar, Astarte

The word Easter is of Saxon origin, Eastra, the goddess of spring, in whose honour sacrifices were offered. The eggs and the bunny are ongoing symbols of fertility and rebirth.

I understand that this is how pagan festivities were ‘Christianised’ but there is evidence that the very earliest Christians, those who knew Jesus and the apostles, did not keep Easter, but Passover, as a memorial of his death, which is what he asked us to do at the last supper.

There was a whole group of 4th century, known as the Quartodecimans, who were excommunicated for insisting on Passover, with Christ as the memorial, and refusing to join with the Roman ‘easter’ which became mandatory at the council of Nicea in 325. Their leader, Polycrates wrote, “We for our part keep the day scrupulously, without addition or subtraction. For in Asia great luminaries sleep who shall rise again on the day of the Lord’s advent, when He is coming in glory from heaven and shall search out all the saints… All of these kept the fourteenth day of the month as the beginning of the Paschal festival, in accordance with the Gospel, not deviating in the least but following the rule of the Faith” ( The History of the Church, Eusebius, pages 230-231).

Keeping the previously pagan easter as the memory of Christ’s resurrection, makes me uncomfortable. Is it a contradiction of the biblical instruction regarding worship:

“When the Lord your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’ You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way; for every abomination to the Lord which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it” (Deuteronomy 12:29–32).

Should we not be celebrating the memorial of his death, what we now recall on Holy Thursday, with the washing of the feet and Communion, on the first eve of Passover,as by biblical reckoning, a day begins at sunset and ends with sunset the next day. It would make more Biblical sense, and keep the church apart from the worldly celebration. Jesus was a Jew, after all, and all his disciples, but their new Passover was Christ, as He is our Passover sacrifice.

I would be interested if any one else finds this idea appealing. Decided to keep a Passover meal in our house this year. It was beautiful.

Go back further with your translations to the hebrew work for passover and see where this leads you.

 

[Bookcat]

Jimmy Akin- Senior Apologist of Catholic Answers video answer responds to this misinformation that one sometimes hears:

jimmyakin.com/2012/04/video-is-easter-pagan.html

(he gets to the name in English around minute 4 - so you can fast forward to that point…)

 

[CatholicRaven]

Bunnies and eggs have nothing to do with christian easter!

In a sense, you’re right–these things aren’t a necessary part of Easter.

However, bunnies and eggs–especially eggs–have long symbolized new life in many cultures (including Christian), so there is nothing inherently wrong with using these in Easter celebrations.

It’s only the relatively recent commercialization and secularization of the Easter celebration that has caused these things to become the “meaning” of the day to many people, rather than symbols that point to the true meaning.

Let us all be careful not to swing the pendulum too far the other way in response to this, and imply that it’s sinful or bad or pagan or un-Christian to have rabbits and eggs on Easter. As long as we remember that the symbol is not the ultimate object of the celebration, and use them accordingly, eggs and bunnies can be part of a Christian Easter, too.

 

[Crusaderbear]

In a sense, you’re right–these things aren’t a necessary part of Easter.

However, bunnies and eggs–especially eggs–have long symbolized new life in many cultures (including Christian), so there is nothing inherently wrong with using these in Easter celebrations. …

Good points. This origins argument comes up every easter…it’s still not right!

 

[Autumn_Smoke]

Along with everyone else’s comments, the main problem with celebrating the Passover in lieu of Easter, is that Passover leaves Jesus in the grave.

And to put it in the language of the Passover ceremony itself:
If God had merely sacrificed his son to be our Passover which would take away our sins, “Dayenu”. (it would have been enough.) …But we know that He did so much more…

Jesus rose on Easter…He conquered the grave!
And that is our future also, and the future for all who would believe in Him.

 

[Crusaderbear]

Along with everyone else’s comments, the main problem with celebrating the Passover in lieu of Easter, is that Passover leaves Jesus in the grave.

And to put it in the language of the Passover ceremony itself:
If God had merely sacrificed his son to be our Passover which would take away our sins, “Dayenu”. (it would have been enough.) …But we know that He did so much more…

Jesus rose on Easter…He conquered the grave!
And that is our future also, and the future for all who would believe in Him.

Amen!

 

[Zeno11]

It would be really nice, if maybe for next year, you found out if there is a Messianic Congregation in London that was holding a public Seder. That way you could experience the whole ceremony and a good dinner too. I say Messianic, because they would relate the Passover to Jesus. It would be a blessing, and you would learn a lot.

It’s always nice to have it in your own home like you did, though, because it is supposed to be a family meal. You can go on-line and find a Messianic Haggadah, (the guide to use for Passover ceremonies)

Thank you for your suggestions. Years ago, my local catholic church held a Messianic Passover meal, in the church hall and it was really well attended, but never happened again.
Thanks to everyone who shared their thoughts. I am really interested in the correlation between the ancient Jewish feasts and the fulfillment of them in Christ.