The holiday of Easter, much like Christmas, has roots in both Christianity and ancient pagan culture. Though it is mostly considered a religious holiday, many of our modern traditions hail from Easter's pagan roots.
The Origin of Easter
Easter actually originated as an ancient pagan celebration of the spring equinox. In Christianity, the day was dedicated to observing the resurrection of Jesus Christ, celebrated around the time of the Jewish Passover. However, with the spread of the Gospel of Christ, early Christians who did not participate in Jewish customs eventually merged their observances with the pagan spring festival, recognizing Easter as "resurrection day.”
Modern Easter Traditions
The Easter traditions we enjoy today come from a blend of Christian themes and ancient pagan celebrations, though we tend to see more of the latter. Easter decorations such as eggs, bunnies, and sweets are all pagan trappings.
Easter Eggs
One of the most recognizable symbols associated with Easter is the Easter egg. This symbol can be traced back to the Ancient Babylonians, who believed an egg fell from heaven into the Euphrates River, and "hatched" the goddess of fertility, Astarte (also known as Ashtur, Ishtar, and, yes, Easter). Pagans exchanged eggs as gifts during their springtime festival. Today, eggs are painted in bright colors and used in the ever-popular Easter egg hunt, where they are hidden for children to find and collect.
The Easter Bunny
Another widely-popular Easter staple is the Easter Bunny. Rabbits, much like eggs, have long represented the spring season and fertility. The Easter Rabbit is a tradition that originated in the pagan festival of Eostre, represented by a northern goddess who was associated with the rabbit and hare. The modern Easter Bunny brings eggs and treats for children to enjoy every Easter.
The White Lily
The white lily is so connected with the holiday that it is sometimes known as the Easter lily. Lilies are associated with purity and resurrection; one legend says lilies grew in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Christ prayed the night before his death. Other flowers associated with spring and Easter include daffodils, crocus, hyacinth and tulips.
Other Symbolism
Other symbols for the Easter holiday season include crosses and crucifixes as a direct connection to religious teachings, chickens and chicks as a spring message of rebirth, and palm branches which are significant for both spring and Christianity.
Like Christmas, Easter is a great occasion for decorating your home and sharing a meal with close friends and family.