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Delving deep into Easter

Many children associate Easter with a surfeit of chocolate eggs rather than a commemoration of the most important event in the Christian calendar.

But like other Easter customs, the origin of the Easter egg goes back a long way. The historical intermingling of pagan, Christian and Jewish beliefs and practices has left its legacy in many of the things we take for granted about Easter today.

Pagan roots
Easter comes near to the time of the spring equinox on 21 March, when the length of the day and night are equal. Throughout history, many ancient cultures have celebrated this as a time of birth and renewal, following the darkness of the long winter.

Historians have traced the origin of the word Easter to the Scandinavian word 'Ostra' and the Germanic 'Ostern' or 'Eastre'. Both of these derive from the names of mythological goddesses of spring and fertility, for whom festivals were held at the time of the Spring Equinox. Similar goddesses were known by other names in other cultures around the Mediterranean, such as Aphrodite from Cyprus, Astarte from Phoenicia, Demeter from Mycenae, Hathor from Egypt, and Ishtar from Assyria. All of these goddesses were celebrated in the spring.

Modern symbols of Easter, such as the egg and the bunny, have their origins in paganism. Rabbits were the most potent symbol of fertility and the egg, the start of all life, was often thought to have magical powers.

Modern-day pagans continue to celebrate the coming of spring as part of a seasonal cycle known as the 'wheel of the year'. Some pagans carry out rituals at this time, such as symbolically planting seeds, and holding egg races and egg hunts.

The Jewish Passover
The Christian Easter also falls near to the time of the Jewish festival of Passover or Pesach, one of the most important feasts in the Jewish calendar.

Passover is an eight day observance commemorating the freedom and exodus of the Israelites (Jews who were held as slaves) from Egypt during the reign of the Pharoah Ramses II. Passover is a time of family gatherings and lavish meals called Seders, accompanied by special foods, songs and customs. It begins on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nissan — which in 2004 will be April 5th. Early Christians, some of whom were of Jewish origin, were influenced by stories of the coming of the Messiah as foretold by the Jewish prophets, and integrated the Christian Easter with the existing festival. In some parts of Europe there are similarities between the name for Easter, as in the French 'Pâques', and the Jewish 'Pesach'.

The date of Easter is not fixed, and always falls on the first Sunday following the full moon that occurs on or after the spring equinox, making it any time between March 22 and April 25. However, Christian churches in the East, closer to the birth of Christianity and in which old traditions were strong, observe Easter according to the date of the Passover.

The Christian tradition
Christianity is the largest religion in the world, with over a billion followers. Around 30 million people in Britain claim to be Christian, though only about 6 million of these are actively committed to the Christian faith. Easter is the most important Christian festival, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion. It follows Lent, a 40-day period of penitence beginning with Ash Wednesday and ending with Easter Sunday.

The last week of Lent is Holy Week, which progresses according to the story of Jesus' last days, through Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday (the Last Supper), Good Friday (the Crucifixion) and Easter Sunday (the Resurrection). Holy Saturday is marked by the first Easter service, the Easter Vigil, when faithful Christians watch and wait, hopeful that Christ will return at midnight. The Easter or Paschal candle is lit during the service, a symbol of Christ risen as the light of the world, helping mankind to shed the darkness of its sins.

Some historians believe the death and resurrection stories were first associated with the Roman myth of Attis, the son by virgin birth of the fertility goddess Cybele, many centuries before the birth of Jesus. Attis' death and resurrection were celebrated at the time of year we would call Easter and there are other similarities between the two stories, such as the effigy of Attis hanging from a tree. In ancient times, Christians and pagans used to quarrel about which of their gods was the imitation, but modern Christians regard the story of Jesus's death and resurrection as true and as unrelated to the Roman tradition. It's believed that early Christians may have gradually incorporated existing pagan influences into their religion in order to make it more acceptable and to prevent converts from being persecuted. 

Pagan legacies

Hot cross buns — At the feast of Eostre, the Saxon fertility goddess, an ox, was sacrificed, and its crossed horns became a symbol of the season carved into the bread. The word 'bun' derives from the Saxon word 'boun' meaning 'sacred ox'.

Easter lilies — It's believed that the lily, because of its shape, was associated with the reproductive organs, and therefore with fertility.

Easter candles — The pagans would light bonfires to welcome the rebirth of the sun God. Christians now celebrate the Easter Vigil service.

Easter Bunny — The symbols of the Norse goddess Ostara were the hare and the egg, both representing fertility. The earthly symbol for the goddess Eastre, goddess of the dawn, was also the rabbit, a symbol of new life. Historians believe the legend of the Easter Bunny originated in Germany before surfacing in the New World in the seventeenth century. Children believed the Easter Bunny would leave them coloured eggs if they were good, and left out their Easter bonnets and caps for the gifts.

Easter eggs — The egg has been a symbol of rebirth and fertility for many centuries. Long before Christianity was introduced, eggs were painted with bright colours to celebrate the sunlight of spring. There's ancient evidence of egg rolling and egg-tossing contests as well as egg gift-giving. In pagan times the egg was believed to have special powers. It was buried under the foundations of buildings to ward off evil, and brides stepped upon an egg before crossing the threshold of their new home. To be given an egg was to wish many children upon the recipient.

Decorating and colouring eggs was a popular custom in the middle ages, and throughout Europe different cultures have evolved their own styles and colours. In Greece, crimson-coloured eggs are exchanged, whereas in Eastern Europe and Russia silver and gold decorations are common, and Austrian eggs often have plant and fern designs.

The first of the highly wrought Fabergé eggs was made as an Easter gift for the Empress Marie of Russia from her husband, Tsar Alexander, in 1883. It featured a small gold egg in an outside shell of platinum and enamel.

The Washington Easter Egg Roll dates from at least 1872, and now takes place as an annual event in the grounds of the White House. The children and grandchildren of the American President traditionally take part.

Some Easter activities

  • Easter eggs — Find out about the traditions and customs of decorating eggs in different countries. Try out some of these different styles.
  • Feasting and fasting — What are some of the different foods eaten in different countries around the time of Easter? What significance do they have for people in these cultures?
  • Fabulous design — Design your own Fabergé egg. Make it as glamorous and expensive as you like. Who would you give it to as an Easter gift, and why?
  • Holy Week — Find out more about the Christian customs associated with Lent and Holy Week. What significance do these practices have for Christians?
  • Passover — Research the customs of Jewish families at Passover. Imagine you're taking part in a Passover feast and describe what happens for someone who doesn't know anything about it.
  • Family matters — What are the Easter traditions in your family? Describe how you spend Easter, and compare your story with a friend's account. Are there any differences?
  • Breaking news — Imagine you're a newspaper reporter in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection. Write up the stories for your newspaper. 

More information and links

 

This article was commissioned by TeacherNet's editorial team, independently of DCSF policy teams.


Last updated: 31 July 2007

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