So, this Sunday is Easter. For some of you, its the only day you go to church each year. Others will gather with family, hunt eggs,pay a visit to the Easter Bunny.Some will attend sunrise services, buy new church clothes(Ive got mine, and it is three sizes smaller than what i was wearing at the beginning of the year. Yipeeeeeee), and decorate eggs. After recently receiving some pretty harsh criticism from a few people about taking my daughter to an easter Egg Hunt, I decided to do my research. I have never researched Easter, its just something we, as a family have always done. I know whats its about,the resurrection of our Lord and savior. But still had so many questions......like why does the date always change? Well,The resurrection of our Lord and Savior has been celebrated since the discovery of the empty tomb. However, the “official” holiday was declared in 325 A.D. when Emperor Constantine convened the Council of Nicaea. At that time it was determined that the church would celebrate Easter on the first Sunday that occurs after the first full moon on or after the vernal equinox. This is why the actual date of Easter varies from late March to early April every year due to the variances in the timing of the full moon.
The name "Easter" derives from the pagan queen of heaven Ishtar or Astarte, also known by other names,depending on the region celebrating.Ishtar is the goddess of love, war, fertility, and sex. In the Babylonian pantheon, she "was the divine personification of the planet Venus".In every other language but English and German, the name Easter is derived from the Hebrew word pesach for 'he passed over. And what about "easter eggs"? Well, eggs represent fertility,new life, a new beginning.
Eggs are often identified with Easter. Long a symbol of fertility and immortality, the egg reminds Christians of the rock tomb from which Christ arose.
In medieval times, eggs were traditionally given to all servants at Easter. It is said that King Edward I of England (1307) distributed 450 boiled Easter eggs, dyed or covered with gold leaf, to members of the royal household.Today, in most countries the eggs are stained with plain vegetable-dye colors. The Syrian and Greek faithful present each other with crimson eggs in honor of the blood of Christ.This is where we get dyeing eggs from,but as with all traditions,it has been changed to suit each individual, and now we dye them many colors. Belief among various groups of pagans was that at one time, a very large egg fell from heaven into the Euphrates River. Fishes then rolled it to the bank where doves rested themselves on the egg until it hatched. Inside was said to be the godess Venus (who was also referred in other pagan cultures by other names such as Astarte...). It was also believed that the egg served as an ark in the time of the Great Flood in which the human race was housed inside.The Egg Hunt is designed that who finds the egg/eggs has good luck/new life for the year. Not all cultures hide their eggs. Some give them as gifts and in some European nations they play a game called “egg dumping” where players hit each others eggs and whoever has the intact egg wins. This is also likely why we see bunnies around easter time as well, because they represent springtime and fertility and give birth in multiple numbers. The actual concept of the easter Bunny came from Germany.
The Easter bunny was introduced to American folklore by the German settlers who arrived in the Pennsylvania Dutch country during the 1700s.
The arrival of the "Oschter Haws" was considered "childhood's greatest pleasure" next to a visit from Christ-Kindel on Christmas Eve. The children believed that if they were good the "Oschter Haws" would lay a nest of colored eggs.So, what do all of these things have to do with the true meaning of easter(or as i like to call it Resurrection Day)? Is there anyway to tie these things into that without taking away the real meaning? More importantly what is the real meaning? Its a serious question. A friend of mine drives a bus. Today,they all loaded up the bus, easter baskets in tow, and he asked them if they knew what it really meant. Only one little girl on the whole bus knew the answer. A recent poll indicates that only about 48 percent of our children know what the true meaning of Easter is.Easter is celebrated to mark the rebirth of Jesus Christ. Jesus was resurrected from the dead on this particular day. Jesus was crucified two days before Easter and that day was known as Good Friday. In these two days, Jesus went through hell and all the sins of mankind were washed away. He died for our sin, so we would not have to!!!
So, in all actuality,in my humblest opinion,and after my research Easter,I would have to say that yes, easter does tie into Jesus Christ's resurrection..Will I continue the traditions i have always done? the easter egg hunting,dyeing,etc? i guess that is all a matter of personal conviction. I see nothing wrong with it, as long as i can symbollically tie it into Jesus Christ's resurrection.I may just dye our eggs only red next year though. I think it is important to find a healthy balance somewhere. I think I am beginning to understand why some people dont celebrate holidays at all.....lol. Im only kidding of course. I leave you with the lyrics to this song, by one of my favorite artists, Mac Powell :
He was pierced for our transgressions
He was crushed for our sins
The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him
And by His wounds, by His wounds we are healed
He was pierced for our transgressions
He was crushed for our sins
The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him
And by His wounds, by His wounds we are healed
We are healed by Your sacrifice
And the life that You gave
We are healed for You paid the price
By Your grace we are saved
We are saved
He was pierced for our transgressions
And crushed for our sins
The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him
And by His wounds, by His wounds we are healed
We are healed by Your sacrifice
And the life that You gave
We are healed for You paid the price
By Your grace we are saved
We are saved
He was pierced for our transgressions
He was crushed for our sins
The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him
And by His wounds, by His wounds we are healed
And by His wounds, by His wounds
What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
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