by Malakai » Mon Mar 28, 2005 5:10 pm
This has been a very interesting thread for having the 'theme' of Easter. Here are some fun pagan facts about the origins of Easter:<p>The name:<br>The name "Easter" originated from an ancient Goddess and God, Eostre (a.k.a. Eastre). She was the Great Mother Goddess of the Saxon people in Northern Europe. Similarly, the Teutonic dawn goddess of fertility had many different names such as Ostare, Ostara, Ostern, Eostra, Eostre, Eostur, Eastra, Eastur, Austron and Ausos. Her name was derived from the ancient word for spring: "eastre."<p>Origins of celebration:<br>Now strangley enough, many of the pagan religions celebrated many 'religious' holidays immediately following the Spring Equinox on a great festive day, which sound uncannily familiar to the Christian world. It was believed that the Phrygian fertility goddess, Cybele, had a consort who was believed to have been born via a virgin birth. His name was Attis, who after death, was resurrected each year during the period MAR-22 to MAR-25. So now whenever the pagans and Christians lived in the same geographical area they usually celebrated the Resurrection on the same day and of course quarreled over who had the true religion.<p>As for where the rabbits, eggs, candy, and gifts come from, I dare not say. Probably a mixed tradition between the pagan and Christian worlds, since the pagans looked to the natural world for their symbolism (hence the rabbits and eggs) and the Christians were more into symbolism that pertained to their personal lives (hence gifts, food, crafts, etc).<p>I can't believe I've remembered all this. I'm such a geek.<br><p>[size=small][Edit by Malakai on [TIME]1112051550[/TIME]][/size]