Many Christians are unaware of the origins of Easter, which is actually a pagan festival held in honor of idols. In fact, Easter was celebrated hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus Christ. It wasn’t until at least 300 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that the celebration of his resurrection began to be intermingled with the pagan practices of Easter. You should know the truth. Here is the explanation from the encyclopedia about the origins of Easter:
The word “Easter” is derived from Eastra, the name of the ancient German Goddess of Spring.[1] Her festival occurred at the vernal equinox. Easter is not held on the same date every year. This is called a moveable feast. Currently Christian churches agree on how the date is calculated. Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday following the first full moon which is on or after March 21st. This means it is celebrated in March or April. It can occur as early as March 22 and as late as April 11.
Origins of the Word “Easter” and the Goddesses it Represents.
“Easter” is derived from “Eostre,” the pagan Anglo-Saxon goddess, and/or “Eostare,” the Norse pagan festival of spring. When God gave the law to the Israelites in the Old Testament, he clearly instructed them not to even utter the name of other gods (Exodus 23:13). Aphrodite, Asherah, Ashtoreth, Astarte, Diana, Eostre, Ianna, Ishtar, Isis, Ostara, Semiramis, Venus are names of goddesses from many different cultures and religions, but she is one and the same, a false goddess, an idol that is worshiped by pagans. And God declares that she is detestable. Asherah is mentioned in the Old Testament quite frequently (Exodus 34:13; Deuteronomy 7:5; Deuteronomy 12:2-4; Deuteronomy 16:21; Judges 6:25-30; 1 Kings 14:15-23; 1 Kings 15:13; 1 Kings 16:33; 1 Kings 18:19; 2 Kings 13:6; 2 Kings 17:7-16; 2 Kings 18:4; 2 Kings 21:3-7; 2 Kings 23:4-15; 2 Chronicles 14:3; 2 Chronicles 15:16; 2 Chronicles 17:6; 2 Chronicles 19:3; 2 Chronicles 24:18; 2 Chronicles 31:1; 2 Chronicles 34:3-7; Isaiah 17:8; Isaiah 27:9; Jeremiah 17:2; Micah 5:14). Ashtoreth (the Babylonian goddess of the woods and nature) is also mentioned by name in the Bible (Judges 2:11-13; 1 Samuel 7:3; 1 Kings 11:5, 33). In every instance, she is an idol and God is greatly angered when his people observe or worship this false image. Inanna, the Sumerian patron of the temple prostitutes was also considered the “merciful mother” who intercedes with the gods on behalf of her worshipers. She is represented with a star inscribed in a circle, a well-known satanic symbol. There are several scriptures which clearly show that worship of any of the celestial elements (sun, moon or stars) is forbidden by God (Deuteronomy 17:2-5; 2 Kings 21:3-7; 2 Kings 23:4-15; Ezekiel 8:15-16). Ishtar [pronounced “Aes-tar”] (the Babylonian/Chaldean goddess of love and war) and Semiramis (an Assyrian goddess) were both known as the “Queen of Heaven.” And the “Queen of Heaven” is the idolatrous behavior specifically mentioned in the Bible as part of the reason God poured out his judgements upon Israel (Jeremiah 7:18; Jeremiah 44:19, 25).
What, other than the obvious connection of the words “Easter” and “Eostre” does this goddess have to do with the modern celebration of Easter? More than many would care to acknowledge.
Images of Pagan “Easter” symbols
Easter’s connection with spring and nature. Diana (the Ephesian goddess of sex, fertility, virginity and motherhood) was said to be the source of nature. Eostre (an Anglo-Saxon/Teutonic goddess) was the goddess of the sunrise and spring. Ostara (a Norse/Saxon goddess) was the maiden goddess of spring.
Origins of Hares (Bunnies) and Eggs. According to Teutonic myth, the hare was once a bird whom Eostre changed into a four-footed creature. Thus, it can also lay eggs. The hare is also the sacred companion and sacrificial victim of Eostre. Astarte (a Phoenician/Syrian goddess), on the other hand, was believed to have been hatched from a huge egg which fell into the Euphrates. This became an idolatrous symbol of worship known in many cultures as the ”sacred egg”.
Origins of Good Friday.
Did you ever wonder why Good Friday is recognized as the day Jesus died and Sunday as the day he arose but yet had trouble explaining how he could thus be buried for three days and three nights? (Matthew 12:40; Matthew 27:63; Mark 8:31; Mark 9:31; Mark 10:34) The answer is simple: He didn’t actually die on “Good Friday.” The Chaldeans offered cakes to Ishtar on the equivalent of the day we know as Good Friday. In Jeremiah chapter 7 v.18, the Israelites were guilty of baking these cakes to Ishtar and called her the “queen of heaven”. In the third century when the Catholic church wanted to appease the paganistic people in order to “convert” them to Christianity, they moved the dates of the celebration of Christ’s resurrection to coincide with the pagan dates of Eostre! Jesus actually died on the day of Preparation of Passover Week, which that year occurred on Wednesday (John 19:14, 31-42). Thursday was the Sabbath of the Passover. Friday, Christ was still in the tomb. Saturday was the “regular” Sabbath. Jesus arose after the Saturday Sabbath was concluded, which was the first day of the week, the day we know as Sunday (Mark 16:9; John 20:1). For further clarification of the days concerning Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, see Matthew 27:50-28:7; Mark 15:25-16:6; Luke 23:44-24:8; John 19:14-20:17. Jesus was in the grave 3 days and 3 nights, fulfilling scripture that was spoken of him.
Origins of Hot Cross Buns and Fires.
Cakes bearing a symbol representing the pair of cow-horns on the moon goddess, Isis, were offered by ancient Egyptians. The cakes which Greeks offered to Astarte and other divinities were called bous or boun, from which the word “bun” is derived. The Babylonians/Chaldeans offered similar cakes to the “Queen of Heaven.” Fires were lit on top of mountains and had to be kindled from new fire, drawn from wood by friction. The fire was then used to bake cakes in sacrifice to Semiramis, the “Queen of Heaven.” This practice, along with burning incense, was used in conjunction with baking the cakes and is mentioned specifically in the Bible (1 Kings 11:8; 2 Kings 17:7-16; 2 Kings 18:4; 2 Kings 23:4-15; Isaiah 17:8; Isaiah 27:9; Ezekiel 8:7-12; Jeremiah 7:16-19; Jeremiah 44:19, 25). In addition to the imprint on these cakes representing the horns of the goddess, it also sometimes represented the four seasons or four phases of the moon. Cakes were also offered to or eaten in honor of Apollo, Diana, Hecate, and the moon (also Diana’s symbol).
Origins of Lent.
The word “lent” is of Anglo-Saxon origin meaning “spring.” Lent developed from the pagan celebration of weeping, fasting, and mourning for 40 days over the death of Tammuz (one day for each year of his life). Tammuz (the son/husband of the Babylonian idol Ishtar) was killed by a wild boar and then allegedly resurrected. This is why the “Easter Ham” was always eaten in commemoration of Tammuz’ death by a pig, after eating no meat for 40 days. This mourning of Tammuz is specifically prophesied by Ezekiel in the Bible and is characterized by God Himself as being detestable (Ezekiel 8:13-15). Also, to prove that they had participated in the sacrificial fires offered to the goddesses, ashes from the fire were smeared on the foreheads of the worshippers.
Origins of the use of the lily.
Asherah (a Sidonian goddess) was frequently represented as a nude woman bestride a lion with a lily in one hand and a serpent in the other. The lily symbolized grace and sex appeal and the serpent symbolized the ability to have abundant offspring, which some cultures changed to the hare or rabbit to symbolize this ability.
Origins of wearing new clothing for Easter.
The tradition of wearing new clothing for Easter comes from the superstition that a new garment worn at Easter means good luck throughout the year.
Origins of the timing. The timing of the festival of “Eostar” (the festival of spring) predates the birth of Jesus Christ, and the festival was always celebrated in conjunction with pagan idol worship. In 325 A.D. the Roman Catholic church conveniently linked the resurrection celebration of Jesus to the first full moon on or following the spring or vernal equinox. This is usually on or about March 21, when nature is in resurrection after winter. This is also when Easter is celebrated in modern times. What does the moon or the moon phases have to do with the timing of celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ? Absolutely nothing! Remember the moon and its phases are worshipped by pagans and witches, and that ritual timeframe carried over when it was incorporated into the church! It must be remembered that the timing of Jesus’ resurrection is linked to the Passover and not to the vernal equinox! Why would the true church of Jesus Christ use pagan timeframes to calculate when to celebrate the day that He conquered death, hell and the grave?
Who celebrates Easter? Witches, who base their celebrations (including Halloween) on the phases of the moon, celebrate Easter. Christians, however, are clearly forbidden from observing this pagan celebration (Deuteronomy 12:30-31; Luke 4:8; 1 Corinthians 10:20-22; Ephesians 5:11). There is a good reason why the early church never spoke of Easter and why there is absolutely no indication of the observance of the Easter festival in the New Testament. The only exception is in Acts 12:4, where it tells that the evil king Herod was waiting until after the celebration of Easter to kill Peter. This is when the pagans were celebrating, not the Christians! This was not an oversight on God’s part; Christians simply are not to celebrate Easter, a pagan festival! Acts 12:4 should be clear that it was not a day of celebration for the early church.
Honoring Jesus Christ.
While there isn’t anything wrong with spring, nature, rabbits, eggs, pastries, fires, lilies, or wearing new clothing, doing or observing such things only for “Easter” is either knowingly or unknowingly participating in pagan practices. Christians who do not yet see anything wrong with such practices should prayerfully read and study 1 Corinthians 10:18-11:1.
The intent of most Christians who celebrate “Easter” is actually to remember and honor Jesus Christ. Rather than celebrate His resurrection with worldly traditions, there are biblical ways for Christians to honor Christ. We should no longer be ignorant of these things that are offensive to God!
First, we should call biblical things by Bible names. Rather than using the name of a false goddess, “Easter,” Christians should use words which do not dishonor God. Some acceptable terms are “Resurrection Day” and “Resurrection Sunday.”
The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus can still be remembered through observance of the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26) and other Christian worship.
Christians should always remember that the focus of the resurrection is Jesus Christ. Surely His sacrifice is enough. Easter eggs, Easter bunnies, and other pagan activities which add worldliness and traditions of men are unnecessary in our observation of Resurrection Day.
A decision to make.
You now have a decision to make concerning Easter. In the oft-quoted words of Joshua:
Joshua 24:14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
15And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Pastor Stephen Dubois
www.SearchForBibleTruth.org