Is Easter Really a Christian Celebration? ??

[Bible Speaks]

OUR READERS ASK . . .
Is Easter Really a Christian Celebration?
Easter is described in the Encyclopædia Britannica as the “principal festival of the Christian church that celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.” However, is it a Christian celebration?

To establish the authenticity of an artifact, attention to detail is critical. Similarly, for us to see whether Easter is a Christian celebration, it is essential that we take a look at the details related to Easter.

First of all, Jesus asked his followers to commemorate, not his resurrection, but his death. The apostle Paul called this occasion “the Lord’s Evening Meal.”—1 Corinthians 11:20;Luke 22:19, 20.

Additionally, many of the Easter traditions “have little to do” with Jesus’ resurrection, states the Britannica, “but derive from folk customs.” For instance, regarding the popular Easter symbols the egg and the rabbit, The Encyclopedia of Religion says: “The egg symbolizes new life breaking through the apparent death (hardness) of the eggshell.” It adds: “The rabbit was known as an extraordinarily fertile creature, and hence it symbolized the coming of spring." 

http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2015165

Easter. “There is no indication of the observance of the Easter festival in the New Testament,” states The Encyclopædia Britannica. How did Easter get started? It is rooted in pagan worship. While this holiday is supposed to commemorate Jesus’ resurrection, the customs associated with the Easter season are not Christian. For instance, concerning the popular “Easter bunny,” The Catholic Encyclopedia says: “The rabbit is a pagan symbol and has always been an emblem of fertility.”
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102005163

EASTER—FERTILITY WORSHIP IN DISGUISE

Promoted as a celebration of Christ’s resurrection, Easter is actually rooted in false religion. The name Easter itself has been linked to Eostre, or Ostara, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of the dawn and of spring. And how did eggs and rabbits come to be associated with Easter? Eggs “have been prominent as symbols of new life and resurrection,” says the Encyclopædia Britannica, while the hare and the rabbit have long served as symbols of fertility. Easter, therefore, is really a fertility rite thinly disguised as a celebration of Christ’s resurrection.*

Would Jehovah condone the use of a filthy fertility rite to commemorate his Son’s resurrection? Never! (2 Corinthians 6:17, 18) In fact, the Scriptures neither command nor authorize the commemorating of Jesus’ resurrection in the first place. To do so in the name of Easter, therefore, is to be doubly disloyal.

http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102008072

References
* Barnhart, Robert K. (1995). The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology: The Origins of American English Words. HarperCollins. ISBN 0-06-270084-7
* Billson, Charles J. (1892). "The Easter Hare" as published in Folk-Lore, Vol. 3, No. 4 (December 1892). Taylor & Francis, Ltd. on behalf of Folklore Enterprises Ltd.
* Boyle, John Andrew (1974). "The Hare in Myth and Reality: A Review Article" as published in Folklore, Vol. 84, No. 4 (Winter, 1973). Taylor & Francis, Ltd. on behalf of Folklore Enterprises Ltd.
* Cusack, Carole M. (2008). "The Return of the Goddess: Mythology, Witchcraft and Feminist Spirituality" as published in Pizza, Murphy. Lewis, James R. (Editors). Handbook of Contemporary Paganism. Brill Publishers. ISBN 9004163735
* Diesel, Andreas. Gerten, Dieter (2007). Looking for Europe: Neofolk und Hintergründe. Index Verlag. ISBN 3-936878-02-1
* Grimm, Jacob (James Steven Stallybrass Trans.) (1882). Teutonic Mythology: Translated from the Fourth Edition with Notes and Appendix Vol. I. London: George Bell and Sons.
* Grimm, Jacob (James Steven Stallybrass Trans.) (1883). Teutonic Mythology: Translated from the Fourth Edition with Notes and Appendix Vol. II. London: George Bell and Sons.
* Hubbard, Benjamin Jerome. Hatfield, John T. Santucci, James A. (2007). An Educator's Classroom Guide to America's Religious Beliefs and Practices. Libraries Unlimited. ISBN 1-59158-409-4
* Giles, John Allen (1843). The Complete Works of the Venerable Bede, in the Original Latin, Collated with the Manuscripts, and Various Print Editions, Accompanied by a New English Translation of the Historical Works, and a Life of the Author. Vol. VI: Scientific Tracts and Appendix. London: Whittaker and Co., Ave Maria Lane.
* Mallory, J. P.; Adams, Douglas Q. (1997). Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 1-884964-98-2.
* Shaw, Philip A. (2011). Pagan Goddesses in the Early Germanic World: Eostre, Hreda and the Cult of Matrons. Bristol Classical Press. ISBN 978-0-7156-3797-5
* Schmadel, Lutz D. (2003). Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, fifth edition, illustrated. Springer. ISBN 3-540-00238-3
* Simek, Rudolf (2007) translated by Angela Hall. Dictionary of Northern Mythology. D.S. Brewer. ISBN 0-85991-513-1
* Wallis, Faith (Trans.) (1999). Bede: The Reckoning of Time. Liverpool University Press. ISBN 0-85323-693-3
* Watkins, Calvert (2006 [2000]). The American Heritage Dictionary of Indo-European Roots. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 0-618-08250-6
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ēostre

[Bible Speaks]

Pictured  is Isis “Queen of Heaven” holding her baby son Horus. The Roman Emperor Constantine renamed this image “Mary & Baby Jesus” in the 3rd Century, but this image is none other than the original Queen of Heaven named Semiramis and she is holding her baby son Tammuz. When Nimrod and Semiramis’s religion migrated to other parts of the world, she took on different names. Another one of her aliases is “Easter.” This is the true identity of EASTER and her son Nimrod who was later supposedly reincarnated as Tammuz (Ezekiel 8:14). Mythology purports that she spends six months each year in the underworld, but on Easter “Sun” day (named after the sun-god) she resurrects in the “East” because the sun rises in the East, and the pagans worship the sun.

Her name started out as Semiramis, but then it was changed in other cultures. She is also known in other cultures as Isis, Diana, Astarte, Ishtar, Aphrodite, Venus, Easter and also as the false deified version of the “Catholic Mary.” Her baby son Nimrod (later reincarnated as Tammuz) also had other names in various cultures because this Babylonian religion migrated around the world. He is also known as Horus, Apollo, Sol, Krishna, Hercules, Mithra, and many others.

This image of Isis Queen of Heaven with baby Horus the sun-god is the true identity of the Catholic “Mary & baby Jesus” that is worshipped by Catholics unawares through icons and graven images.

 

[Ann O'Maly]

11 hours ago, Bible Speaks said:

Pictured  is Isis “Queen of Heaven” holding her baby son Horus. The Roman Emperor Constantine renamed this image “Mary & Baby Jesus” in the 3rd Century, but this image is none other than the original Queen of Heaven named Semiramis and she is holding her baby son Tammuz. When Nimrod and Semiramis’s religion migrated to other parts of the world, she took on different names ... [etc., etc.]

"TWO BABYLONS" ALARM TRIGGERED!

Carefully back away, people, and make your way to the factual part of the internet.

https://www.gotquestions.org/easter-origins.html

http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/2009/april/was-easter-borrowed-from-pagan-holiday.html

[JW Insider]

15 hours ago, Bible Speaks said:

The Roman Emperor Constantine renamed this image “Mary & Baby Jesus” in the 3rd Century

Constantine was not an emperor in the 3rd century.

[Ann O'Maly]

I see. Downvotes. Hey, I've done the serious, 'let's explain why this is fake history' approach many times. I've done the short, sharp, 'THIS IS TOTAL BUNKUM!' approach. Both approaches have not prevented further dissemination of this arrant nonsense on this forum. 

So I'm trying humor for a change 

[JW Insider]

I have no interest in celebrating Easter, and it's obvious that the rabbit and egg fertility symbols are completely out of place. I'm glad that the Watchtower points these things out. But there does come a point when, just because we don't like something, we tend to believe anything bad about it. In fact, one of the source sites for this information is here: https://warriorsoftheruwach.com/easter/

That site has all the info that Bible Speaks includes, and then some:

Here is my favorite:

 

 

[Queen Esther]

Hahaha...  ALL can see, its totally FAKE - EASTER  eggs !  

[Ann O'Maly]

Quote

The tradition of coloring eggs comes from covering eggs in the blood of sacrificed infants

You know, this claim does not seem to come from Hislop and I'm having trouble tracking down where it originated from (beyond just repetition on the interwebs).

[The Librarian]

See also.... a simple previous question posed:

 

[Bible Speaks]

EASTER—FERTILITY WORSHIP IN DISGUISE

Promoted as a celebration of Christ’s resurrection, Easter is actually rooted in false religion. The name Easter itself has been linked to Eostre, or Ostara, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of the dawn and of spring. And how did eggs and rabbits come to be associated with Easter? Eggs “have been prominent as symbols of new life and resurrection,” says the Encyclopædia Britannica, while the hare and the rabbit have long served as symbols of fertility. Easter, therefore, is really a fertility rite thinly disguised as a celebration of Christ’s resurrection.*

Would Jehovah condone the use of a filthy fertility rite to commemorate his Son’s resurrection? Never! (2 Corinthians 6:17, 18) In fact, the Scriptures neither command nor authorize the commemorating of Jesus’ resurrection in the first place. To do so in the name of Easter, therefore, is to be doubly disloyal.

http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102008072

Yes, Easter is not a Christian Holiday as you see, what does the Christ have to do with colored eggs? I have a funny picture but maybe you'd wouldn't like it? It just shows us there is no Christ in Easter. 

21 minutes ago, The Librarian said:

See also.... a simple previous question posed:

 

@The Librarian The picture gives it away with being red and crosses on them? Have you read anywhere these are used in Greek Orthodox Churches?  ??

[Ann O'Maly]

2 hours ago, Ann O'Maly said:

Quote

The tradition of coloring eggs comes from covering eggs in the blood of sacrificed infants

You know, this claim does not seem to come from Hislop and I'm having trouble tracking down where it originated from (beyond just repetition on the interwebs).

I can only get as far as this source - a self-published work: J. R. Terrier - History of Easter - Hidden, Secret Origins and Mystery Religion. I don't know exactly what s/he says from the preview or where the author gets the idea that coloring eggs originated from the practice of sacrificing infants and using their blood, but I strongly suspect that its completely made up. 

If anyone else can track down this claim further to 'ground zero,' then please post it. I'm curious.

1 hour ago, Bible Speaks said:

Yes, Easter is not a Christian Holiday as you see, what does the Christ have to do with colored eggs?

Nothing. Easter eggs and bunnies are now the secularized part of the spring celebration. 

"Should we celebrate Easter or allow our children to go on Easter egg hunts? This is a question both parents and church leaders struggle with. Ultimately, it comes down to a matter of conscience (Romans 14:5). There is nothing essentially evil about painting and hiding eggs and having children search for them. What is important is our focus. If our focus is on Christ, our children can be taught to understand that the eggs are just a fun game. Children should know the true meaning of the day, and parents and the church have a responsibility to teach the true meaning. In the end, participation in Easter egg hunts and other secular traditions must be left up to the discretion of parents." - Source

And remember this general principle:

"A main concern is, not what the practice meant hundreds of years ago, but how it is viewed today in your area. Understandably, opinions may vary from one place to another. Hence, it is wise to avoid turning such matters into big issues." - g03 9/22 p. 24.

[Evacuated]

37 minutes ago, Ann O'Maly said:

Children should know the true meaning of the day

Which day is this?

 

On 4/8/2017 at 11:45 PM, Bible Speaks said:

Easter is described in the Encyclopædia Britannica as the “principal festival of the Christian church that celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

Some relevance here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-39153121