However, it was not until 1972–58 years after President Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day official–that the day honoring fathers became a nationwide holiday in the United States. According to the New Testament, Jesus was arrested by the Roman authorities, essentially because he claimed to be the “Son of God,” although historians question this motive, with some saying that the Romans may have viewed him as a threat to the empire. But not all Easter customs are Christian; some, such as the Easter Bunny, are pagan in origin. The Romans believed that "All life comes from an egg." In the eighth century, ...read more, Veterans Day is a U.S. legal holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars, and Veterans Day 2021 occurs on Thursday, November 11. Yes and no. Learn all about the history and origin of the Easter egg tradition, from decorative to chocolate: Where did Easter eggs come from? Strictly speaking, the Easter Bunny doesn’t directly have much to do with Jesus. Despite claims that the original Easter eggs are Pagan symbols from Europe, but there's little evidence to support this; instead, it seems to be a more middle eastern tradition. Although a holiday of high religious significance in the Christian faith, many traditions associated with Easter date back to pre-Christian, pagan times. Like rabbits, eggs represented new life and fertility in pagan times, which is probably how the Easter fable of a warm-blooded, floppy-eared mammal laying eggs evolved. Similar to trunk-or-treat on Halloween, a tradition that allows kids to come in costume at churches and receive candy in a safer environment, churches can invite children of the local community to participate in an Easter egg hunt at the church. The tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. Notably, several Protestant Christian denominations, including Lutherans and Quakers, have opted to formally abandon many Easter traditions, deeming them too pagan. It begins on Ash Wednesday, and lasts for 40 days (not including Sundays). Nowhere in the Bible do we see a rabbit of any sort appear in the Easter narrative, and we don’t really see any rabbit imagery in general in the Bible, besides the fact that the Jews were forbidden to eat them due to their unclean nature (Leviticus 11:6). The rabbit has pre-Christian roots associated with fertility, new life, and spring. Easter is quite similar to other major holidays like Christmas and Halloween, which have evolved over the last 200 years or so. So Easter has in the origins, but it does not have any ancient biblical origins but has ancient pagan origins. One theory is based on pagan tradition, more specifically the festival of Eostre, who was the goddess of fertility. Easter eggs are actually the product of the Easter bunny, a mythical creature who delivers eggs to children. The origin story of Easter eggs starts in Medieval Europe, but it may or may not have originated with Christians. The resurrection of Jesus, as described in the New Testament of the Bible, is essentially the foundation upon which the Christian religions are built. As outlined previously, the rabbit was a symbol associated with Eostre, representing the beginning of Springtime. We’re not sure that “Easter” was a pagan word. Or are there Christian symbols embedded in this weird twist on the holiday? “Easter eggs: History, Origin, Symbolism and tradition.” Huffington Post. The Easter bunny began life as the Germanic and Saxon goddess of the dawn and the spring, Eostre, whose sacred animal was the hare. It goes back to ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. As Jesus’ arrest and execution were said to have occurred during the Jewish observance of Passover, the Easter holiday is often close to the former celebration on the Judeo-Christian calendar. Although a holiday of high religious significance in the Christian faith, many traditions associated with Easter date back to pre-Christian, pagan times. What Other Proof Exists? Many statues of fertility goddesses, such as statues of Ishtar from Babylon, are often covered in eggs. Are these origins Christian or Pagan? The most sober and reliable source out there, the Oxford English Dictionary, dutifully cites the Venerable Bede’s contention from 1,300 years ago that Easter is derived from a pagan holiday. I am here to … Continue reading "The Not-So-Pagan Origins of Easter" Even if we cower away from the Easter bunny, from Christmas trees, from anything that has an origin that isn’t strictly from the Bible, we can’t completely isolate ourselves, or we’ll lose our effectiveness (Matthew 5:13). 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