While there are many thoughts and beliefs about the origins of Easter, here’s some interesting information we discovered.
Ancient traditions says that following the Spring Equinox, most of the Pagan peoples and many religious groups located in areas near the Mediterranean Sea, celebrated the emergence of spring. An important part of this was celebrating Cybele, the Phrygian fertility goddess.
It was believed she’d had a lover named Attis; considered to have been through a virgin birth. Who’s believed to have died and been resurrected each year during the dates of March 22 to March 25th. In time, cults began celebrating Cybele and Attis annually in Greece. And by 200 B.C. similar cults began appearing in Rome.
Since Attis was born of a virgin, had died and was reborn annually, people considered him the god of ever-reviving vegetation. Also referred to as the older Tammuz, Osiris, Dionysus, Orpheus, the festival of celebration to Attis began as a day of blood on Black Friday. Culminating three days later after much rejoicing over his resurrection.
In those same time, Christians worshipping Jesus was also taking place in the same geographical area. Only Christians were celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Also on the same date as celebrations to Attis took place. So Christians and pagans would quarrel bitterly about which date on which celebrations should take place, and which of their gods - Attis or Jesus was the true one. The one to be celebrated.
Many popular religious historians believed that the death and resurrection legends, first associated with Attis centuries before the birth of Jesus, were simply added to the many stories of his life. To make Christian theology more acceptable to Pagans. On the other hand, some suggest many of these events recorded in Christian gospels were taken from the life of Krishna, the second person of the Hindu Trinity.
On the other hand, many ancient Christians believed Satan had created a false deity - Attis - in advance of the coming of Jesus in order to confuse humanity. Today’s Christians regard Attis as simply a Pagan legend, who is of little value. Believing Jesus’ death and resurrection as being absolutely true. And totally unrelated to earlier traditions created by Pagans.
Modern-day Easter appears to be a combination of the two ancient traditions. One Judeo-Christian, the other Pagan. For hundreds of years, both Christians and Pagans have each participated in celebrations of death and resurrection themes following the Spring Equinox. In fact, many religious historians believe some elements of the Easter observance, celebrated by Christians, were derived from earlier Pagan celebrations.
The equinox occurs each year on March 20, 21 or 22. And both neopagans and Christians continue - today - to use these days as a base for religious celebrations linked to ancient rituals linked to the equinox. On the other hand, others hold their celebrations on the day or eve of the equinox. And Western Christians celebrate Easter on the Sunday on or after the full moon that follows the nominal date of the Equinox -- MAR-21. Plus Eastern Orthodox churches calculate the date, on which their Easter celebration is held, many weeks after the date which Western churches have selected.
Today the same people and religious groups, near the Mediterranean Sea, celebrate the Spring Equinox as one of their 8 annual Sabbats (holy days of celebration). Near the sea, these are times for the celebration of the sprouting of summer’s crops; farther to the north they’re celebrating seeding time. Their unique Spring Equinox rituals generally related to the fertility of the crops.
While Western Christians still celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ beginning with the season of Lent. Ending on Easter Sunday. With a few pagan rituals added in.
The name "
Easter" originated with the names of an ancient Goddess and God. The Venerable Bede, (672-735
CE.) a Christian scholar, first asserted in his book De Ratione Temporum that Easter was named after Eostre (a.k.a. Eastre). She was the Great Mother Goddess of the Saxon people in Northern Europe. Her name was derived from the ancient word for spring: "eastre." Similar Goddesses were known by other names in ancient cultures around the Mediterranean, and were celebrated in the springtime.
Gifting at Easter
When Easter arrives, it brings spring with it. And like people in ancient times, it brings with it the desire to start anew. To create, plant, organize or reorganize our lives. To start this, we often gift friends and/or family members on Easter. Offering them something new to start the season. Or a thoughtful remembrance.
Since Easter is a unique religious and commercial day combined, may will be gifting family and friends with a combination of gifts ranging from simple religious gifts to candy and gourmet baskets reflecting giving in this unique season of joy. Included here are a variety of gifts you'll be happy to give; and others will love receiving.
If you plan to give something Gold, here's some basic info on caring for gold to give the receiver:
When properly cared for Gold jewelry will last forever. Especially if you store each piece separately. Since some gold can easily be scratched, storing them separately keeps each piece from rubbing against another. No need for exotic cleaning products. Most gold can easily be cleaned by dipping each piece in warm, soapy wather and, using a brush, cleaning each piece. If you decide to use commercial cleaning products, be sure read the directions carefully. And there are polishing clothing also available to make cleaning fast and easy.
Silver:
While cleaning silver is similar to cleaning gold, you‘ll need a specific cleaner for silver. And a silver cleaning cloth. Follow the cleaning directions. Removing tarnish with a gentle rubbing not hard rubbing. Also, be sure item isn’t already tarnish resistant. If you using silver polish on a tarnish resistant item, you’ll be removing the coating.
Looking for a religious gift for a special someone in your life?
