Four Quick Questions About Easter

Origins of Easter

Easter itself is originally a Jewish holiday that was then adopted by the early Christians and expanded a little. Jesus Christ’s ministry paralleled Passover, including the Crucifixion, making Him the sacrificial lamb. In fact, there are so many parallels between Jesus’ life and Passover that if you wanted to argue that The Bible was a story rather than history, this would be the best argument. The Passover was adapted by early Christians and expanded upon by the early church, eventually becoming the forty days period of fasting and celebrating.

Easter is a pagan holiday.

Not necessarily true. The name itself comes from a Germanic deity Ēostre, goddess of the dawn. Although there are those that believe it has to do with Ishtar, the origin of the name pretty much goes all around the Middle East, ranging from India to the German area to North England. However, the name is pretty much the only part that is ultimately uniquely pagan. As Christianity spread, the springtime celebration sometimes combined with local traditions to create some unique traditions. It is thus hard to tell where pagan and Christian traditions begin and end.

What is it with the eggs and bunnies?

The two have their own symbolic meanings for early Christians. The eggs represented the empty cave of Jesus’ tomb, and the hare was linked to Mary, Mother of Jesus. Eggs were also considered dairy, and therefore prohibited during Lent; as chickens did not conveniently stop laying them during that period of time, the eggs had to be boiled to preserve them until after Easter. (Combine a bored populace with a stack of white canvasses that are piling up and it’s hard not to see why there are so many egg traditions.) It wasn’t hard to eventually link the two, as they are both symbols of fertility. The idea of a bunny that spread eggs and acted as a judge of children eventually coalesced, and the Easter Bunny became a sort of springtime Santa Claus, leaving behind bonnets and other items.

Why does Easter change the date each year?

The date of Easter is based on a lunar calendar rather than a solar one. It is celebrated approximately on the Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox (it’s a little more complicated, but that’s a good enough approximation). Because it is based on the lunar calendar, it is subject to moving based on the date of the full moon. There has been reform suggested, and the date itself is part of numerous controversies, but how the date is chosen is unlikely to change any time soon.  

I hope this has helped a little bit…