pagan Easter

Feeling almost resurrected today. Praise the sun, hail Spring!

Easter is a pagan festival. If Easter isn’t really about Jesus, then what is it about? Today, we see a secular culture celebrating the spring equinox, whilst religious culture celebrates the resurrection. However, early Christianity made a pragmatic acceptance of ancient pagan practises, most of which we enjoy today at Easter. The general symbolic story of the death of the son (sun) on a cross (the constellation of the Southern Cross) and his rebirth, overcoming the powers of darkness, was a well worn story in the ancient world. There were plenty of parallel, rival resurrected saviours too…

All the fun things about Easter are pagan. Bunnies are a leftover from the pagan festival of Eostre, a great northern goddess whose symbol was a rabbit or hare. Exchange of eggs is an ancient custom, celebrated by many cultures… Guardian

“Hares (and rabbits) were symbols of the fertility of the season…” And beagles?

Well, wherever it comes from… Thanks to the Younger Bunny who left a basket at my bedside this morning. Imagine my delight at pulling back the “grass” to discover not some inferior knock-off chocolate eggs or bunny but a lovely shrink-wrapped travel kit “for the man on the go.”  Guess I better get going.

Tags: Easter, paganism, Spring