The Easter Holiday is upon us…but what should we be celebrating? A bunny with a basket full of eggs (which doesn’t make sense) or a lamb that was slain before the foundation of the world? Over the years, the world has been increasing its agendas, and Christians are hard-pressed to find a stuffed lamb in the box stores, let alone items with a cross on it, but plenty of bunnies. Why? As the traditions of men continue, the true meaning of the holy day (what holiday means) is watered down for mass consumption of products, chocolates, and toys. When we do things according to the traditions of men, we can become familiar, not seeking the truth of the matter. That familiarity can cause one to forget the reason the tradition began in the first place (if they’re not diligent).
The word Easter is also curious when it comes to the true meaning of the celebration over death, hell, and the grave. Easter is a pre-Christian Old English word derived from the pagan goddess Eostre (Ostara), which means rising dawn. The folklore goddess of spring and fertility, she was said to be the namesake of the Anglo-Saxon calendar month Eosturmonath (now translated Paschal Month). In more modern times, Eostre was associated with hares. However, there is no current evidence other than Venerable Bede, an 8th-century monk, who wrote about her in The Reckoning of Time. There are no archaeological findings of her existence, and it seems she was not worshipped until his book. His writings were the catalyst for the celebration of the Paschal Lamb to be named Easter because it coincided with the rise of Christianity and was also a spring event. The King James Version of the Bible mentions “Easter” only once in Acts 12:4. However, it is a mistranslation of the Greek word “Pascha,” which means Passover, the Paschal Sacrifice of the Lamb.
So, Bunnies or Lambs?
Are we too “familiar” with the “tradition” of Easter (bunnies, colored eggs, baskets full of candy, and family gatherings with no reverence)? Or is it time we resurrect its true meaning–the celebration of God offering His only Son, the Paschal Lamb–and live a life teaching others and honoring what God did to save us from sin? From ourselves? I pray we celebrate this most joyous of occasions with our families and choose to focus on the latter.
Blessings and honor,
Angela Errett
Feature Image: Lamb with basket of eggs GENAI Text to Image; Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the KING JAMES VERSION of the Bible.
