EASTER falls on this date in 2022. According
to the Venerable Bede, Easter derives its name from Eostre, an
Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring. A month corresponding to April had been
named "Eostremonat," or Eostre's month, leading to "Easter" becoming
applied to the Christian holiday that usually took place within it.
Prior to that, the holiday had been called Pasch (Passover), which
remains its name in most non-English languages. Based on the similarity
of their names, some connect Eostre with Ishtar, the Babylonian and
Assyrian goddess of love and fertility, but there is no solid evidence
for this.
It seems probable
that around the second century A.D., Christian missionaries seeking to
convert the tribes of northern Europe noticed that the Christian holiday
commemorating the resurrection of Jesus roughly coincided with the
Teutonic springtime celebrations, which emphasized the triumph of life
over death. Christian Easter gradually absorbed the traditional symbols:
Easter Eggs: In
Medieval Europe, eggs were forbidden during Lent. Eggs laid during that
time were often boiled or otherwise preserved. Eggs were thus a
mainstay of Easter meals, and a prized Easter gift for children and
servants. In addition, eggs have been viewed as symbols of new life and
fertility through the ages. It is believed that for this reason many
ancient cultures, including the Ancient Egyptians, Persians, and Romans,
used eggs during their spring festivals.
Many traditions
and practices have formed around Easter eggs. The coloring of eggs is a
established art, and eggs are often dyed, painted, and otherwise
decorated. Eggs were also used in various holiday games: parents would
hide eggs for children to find, and children would roll eggs down hills.
These practices live on in Easter egg hunts and egg rolls. The most
famous egg roll takes place on the White House lawn every year.
Different Traditions: Orthodox
Christians in the Middle East and in Greece painted eggs bright red to
symbolize the blood of Christ. Hollow eggs (created by piercing the
shell with a needle and blowing out the contents) were decorated with
pictures of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and other religious figures in
Armenia.
Germans gave
green eggs as gifts on Holy Thursday, and hung hollow eggs on trees.
Austrians placed tiny plants around the egg and then boiled them. When
the plants were removed, white patterns were created.
Artistic Creations: The
most elaborate Easter egg traditions appear to have emerged in Eastern
Europe. In Poland and Ukraine, eggs were often painted silver and gold. Pysanky
(to design or write) eggs were created by carefully applying wax in
patterns to an egg. The egg was then dyed, wax would be reapplied in
spots to preserve that color, and the egg was boiled again in other
shades. The result was a multi-color striped or patterned egg.
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The Easter Bunny: Hares
and rabbits have long been symbols of fertility. The inclusion of the
hare into Easter customs appears to have originated in Germany, where
tales were told of an "Easter hare" who laid eggs for children to find.
German immigrants to America -- particularly Pennsylvania -- brought the
tradition with them and spread it to a wider public. They also baked
cakes for Easter in the shape of hares, and may have pioneered the
practice of making chocolate bunnies and eggs.
But what does
fertility have to do with Easter? Many who celebrate the holiday do not
recognize that Easter is not a biblical holiday at all—it is wholly
derived from pre-Christian celebrations of springtime fertility, devoted
to pagan goddesses with names such as Ishtar, Astarte and Ostara, from
whom the name "Easter" is derived. Also, those who make a pun on "Son
rise" and "sunrise" may not be aware that their Easter morning "sunrise"
service—facing the direction of the rising sun during their worship —
has its origins not in Scripture but in pagan sun goddess worship.
Easter Cards: Easter
cards arrived in Victorian England, when a stationer added a greeting
to a drawing of a rabbit. According to American Greetings, Easter is now
the fourth most popular holiday for sending cards, behind Christmas,
Valentine's Day, and Mother's Day.
Easter Parades: After
their baptisms, early Christians wore white robes all through Easter
week to indicate their new lives. Those had already been baptized wore
new clothes instead to symbolize their sharing a new life with Christ.
In Medieval Europe, churchgoers would take a walk after Easter Mass, led
by a crucifix or the Easter candle. Today these walks endure as Easter
Parades. People show off their spring finery, including lovely bonnets
decorated for spring.
