What’s Really behind the holiday truths?
Hello there, R U as curious as I am regarding all these Holidays?
1) What does Easter eggs or bunnies have to do with the resurrection of Christ?
2) What does Christmas have to do with Santa Clause and the epiphany?
3) What is the symbolism of a wreath? In karate it means peace (As some schools use the word Chimbe)
4) Why is it a tradition to kiss under the mistletoe?
Having a basic idea about all these questions above comes down to the Christians persecution. If you’re intrigued … read on!
I
remember having a conversation with a friend regarding Easter, it came
up that the Christians were not allowed to worship any other God but
what the Romans did and pagan religion worshiped many gods, 1 of which
was the god of fertility.
The
English name for this holy day has long been linked to the Anglo – Saxon
goddess of spring, usually called Eostre or Ostara. Known as a pagan
goddess of dawn, Eostre is a deity whose name is connected to the word
East (where the sun rises). Other languages for this holiday’s name
(such as
Pasqua,
in Italian or
Pascua
in Spanish Paska in Greek) is related to the Hebrew word Pesach for
Passover, commemorating the exodus of the Jews led by Moses from Egypt.
In the gospels, Jesus’ last days take place during Passover. The date of
Easter has been a subject of controversy for centuries. Western
Christians now fix the holiday on the 1st Sunday after the 1st
full moon that occurs on or after the vernal equinox, which usually is
March 20th or the 21st (Easter fell on April 16 in
2006) Orthodox Christians use a different calculation to set the
holiday. This link between the moon & spring’s arrival is no accident.
Most ancient farmers or not so ancient (growing up in southern Italy
this method was still practiced) viewed the vernal equinox as a time of
renewal, when they planted their 1st crops & sheep gave
birth.
According to Anglo – Saxon myth, the goddess Ostara changed her favorite pet bird into a rabbit to amuse some children. The rabbit produced brightly colored eggs, which the goddess gave to the kids. In Germany, that tradition carried into Christian’s times with the tale of a Santa like magical rabbit, Osterhase, who leaves colored eggs for good children. Many cultures, including the Hindu & Chinese, regard the egg as a symbol of the universe & creation; eggs were fertility symbols for numerous early civilizations. People colored & exchanged eggs during spring festivals in ancient Persia, Rome and other cultures. In Christian times, the eggs took on a new meaning because they were forbidden during lent – the 40 days preceding Easter – but they could be eaten after the holiday arrived.
