Why is it Called Easter ?

Easter Sunday...a Day Celebrated for Different Reasons

 

It's called Easter, but why is it called Easter? 

Most people in this world would be hard pressed to provide that answer...and most surprisingly, those who practice Christianity !

...and its origin will surprise many of you.

Most people are aware that Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but the word actually got its roots back in the 2nd century.

Originally the Greek and Latin writers used the word " Pascha"  in their description of Christ's resurrection, and in most NON-English speaking nations, the day is referred to as "Pascha".

The word " Pascha" in English is Passover...

..and of course, "Passover" in Judaism is known for the commemoration of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage.

Following the death of Jesus, St. Paul, in his epistle from Ephesus, wrote "Christ our Pascha has been sacrificed for us".

 

Over the centuries the term for the resurrection of Christ in various languages was referred to in different ways; and it is believed sometime prior to the 10th century, the word " Eostre" or "Eastre" was used.

There is some evidence that the word  "eostre" in Old English, may have meant "the month of opening", and as the years past, this "month of opening" was used to describe the "opening" of a New Testament...which in Christian belief, is that Jesus Christ was the messiah, and the fulfillment of a prophecy in the Old Testament.

"Eostre", over the centuries and languages of the world, eventually become known as EASTER.

..but as always, there is more to the story.

Today, we also tend to associate Easter...with a rabbit...

The Easter Bunny !!!!

 

How did that ever happen?

It actually goes back to the days of the Anglo-Saxons...in England, to a pagan goddess named "Eastre" who was worshiped by them prior to the era of Christianity.

" Eastre" was the goddess of fertility, and her earthly symbol was...

...you guessed it...a RABBIT.

And...because the rabbit is perhaps the most fertile animal known to man...

...it also represented the symbol of the opening of "new life"...

...during Spring...the "month of opening" ....

...which was believed to have eventually become associated with the "opening" of a belief called Christianity.

But who managed to call it an Easter Bunny?

That credit is given to the Germans, and can be traced back to the 1500s, who eventually brought it with them when they migrated to the Americas,  believing that a white rabbit would leave brightly colored eggs for all good children to discover on Easter morning.

...and we owe the Germans for bringing an Easter treat to America...edible Easter bunnies, first made in Germany during the early 1800's.

 

And whether you celebrate this day as the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, or eating a chocolate Easter bunny and chocolate eggs while watching your grandkids look for colored Easter eggs scattered over your home...

 

Allen & I wish all of you...

A very Happy Easter.

Dick Arendt