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Have you ever wondered why the dates of Easter move every year, yet the date of Christmas remains the same?
And, while you've probably figured out that it's no accident that a holiday (holy day) that celebrates the resurrection of Christ takes place at a time of year that celebrates the returning of life (spring) to the planet after it has been in a state of death (winter), have you ever puzzled over what such symbols as Easter bunnies and eggs have to do with this same holiday? Even more interesting, perhaps, is that the majority of folks dutifully buy chocolate bunnies and help their children color eggs without any understanding or thought to what the source of these traditions may be, and what they may unawaredly be celebrating.
Thanks to an article in the most recent issue of the U.C.M. ezine, "A Joyous Noise," which I've copied below, the code on these "mysteries" has been broken! Read the following, and you will deepen your understanding and appreciation of what the words, "melting pot" mean regarding how holiday traditions come into being:
Easter can occur as early as 22 March or as late as 25 April and is therefore called a movable feast (a religious holiday that falls on different dates in different years). Wonder why it keeps changing? The Last Supper for Christ and his disciples was a Seder. So, the crucifixion was during Passover. Many early Christians argued that since Jesus (who was a Jew and a Rabbi) died on a Passover day, Easter should be celebrated the same day Jews celebrate the Eve of Passover. The other side urged that since the resurrection of Jesus took place on a Sunday, Easter should always be commemorated on a Sunday. The Council of Nicaea in 325AD ruled that Easter should occur on the First Sunday after the first full moon on or after the vernal equinox and never on the same day as Passover.
Though the centuries pass, the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ is still the most important Holy Day observed by Christians throughout the world. Easter is celebrated with church attendance, singing hymns, floral decorations, wearing fresh new clothes, Easter bonnets, special celebratory foods, decorated eggs and Easter bunnies.
Easter was originally a pagan festival. The ancient Saxons celebrated the return of spring with a huge festival commemorating their goddess of spring and of springtime, Eostre. This festival occurred at the same time of year as the Christian observance of the Resurrection of Christ.
Eostre became Easter. But what do bunnies, eggs, fuzzy chicks, etc. have to do with the death of Christ? Not much. The Goddess Eostre, was represented by the rabbit. The egg is a symbol of rebirth. Eggs were often wrapped in gold leaf or, if you were a peasant, colored brightly by boiling them with the leaves or petals of certain flowers and exchanged in the springtime.
-- Hal Isen
A Core Wisdom Quote
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