Charles Brammall rabbits on about Easter.
I didn’t grow up going to church on Good Friday- it wasn’t part of my denomination’s expression of piety. But for the last few years I have started going along with my wife, and it is wonderful! I weep, at Jesus’ death on my behalf, and marvel at the forgiveness He has won me. It is deeply existentially, viscerally, ontologically moving.
The relationship between Christian Easter and pagan traditions is a tangled and much-debated one, with interwoven threads of theology, history, culture and fantasy.
The word Easter in English (Ostern in German) appears to have pagan roots.
According to the C18 historian Bede, it derives from Ēostre (or Ostara), a spring goddess in Anglo-Saxon paganism, associated with fertility and renewal. Her name is also the origin of the word “estrogen”. Most other languages use a variant of Pascha, from the Hebrew Pesach (Passover), directly tying it to the Jewish roots of the Christian holiday. In France it is Pâques; Spain, “Pascua”; and Holland, “Pasen”.
But although associated with spring and fertility, Oestre was for some reason known as the “destroyer”.
The symbols of eggs and bunnies are also allegedly connected to her, as they celebrate new life, and the bursting forth from a “cocoon” of un-aliveness. (Think of Jesus’ cocoon-like tomb.)
So the name “Easter” probably has pagan etymology, but the event it refers to— Jesus’ coming back to life- is obviously well and truly rooted in Judeo-Christian tradition.
Easter is a moveable feast, calculated as the first Sunday after the first full moon, following the spring equinox. This ties it loosely to the rhythms of nature and the agricultural calendar- things pagans were also quite fond of celebrating.
Pagan spring festivals (eg those honoring Ēostre or fertility gods like Attis, Tammuz, or Dionysus) often celebrated new life, rebirth, and the end of winter. These themes of rebirth and renewal are obviously present in Christian Easter, but now focus on Jesus’ resurrection as the ultimate new life.
So while there’s thematic overlap, the meaning is dramatically different.
The Easter bunny and Easter eggs are obviously not in the Bible. But Christians later “baptised” these symbols, using eggs, for example, to represent the sealed tomb from which life (in this case Christ’s) bursts forth.
So these symbols were adapted; but not adopted wholesale. Like many Christian practices, Easter absorbed and reinterpreted local customs.
Some people see this overlap as syncretism- Christianity blending with paganism to win converts. Others (me included) see it as providence: that God, Creator of seasons and nature, embedded truths in creation that are fulfilled in Christ.
C.S. Lewis opined: “Myths and symbols across cultures are echoes of the true myth– the gospel. The pagan longing for rebirth finds its true satisfaction in Christ’s resurrection,”
So Christian Easter is not a pagan holiday in disguise. It commemorates a historical and theological event- the resurrection of Jesus the Nazarene.
But like many Christian feasts, it has grown up in conversation with the culture around it, sometimes absorbing and reinterpreting elements that point, albeit tangentially, to the truth it proclaims.
One the alleged reasons we have eggs, especially with red on them, is related to a fable about Mary Magdalene. She apparently brought a basket of boiled eggs to share with other women at Jesus’ tomb, three days after his death. When the gigantic boulder was rolled back at sunrise, they found the tomb empty. At this point, all eggs in the basket turned red. Hmmm…
Another tale suggests that Mary took some eggs with her to Jesus’ crucifixion. Blood dripped down from his wounds to fall on the eggs and coloured them red.
Legends aside, coloured eggs have been a prominent symbol of Easter for many centuries. Until the C19, actual boiled eggs were decorated and used as Easter eggs.
In Eastern Europe they still use vinegar and dyes to colour the eggs. Called “Pysanka”, the tradition of ornate eggs only came to the USA with the immigration of Ukrainian immigrants.
And, fun fact- apparently boiling eggs with onion skin turns them golden. Give it a try!
Artificial eggs, sometimes made with chocolate and often containing small gifts, started showing up in France and Germany in the early part of C19, and in Britain in 1873.
Even Queen Victoria allegedly adored the festival, thanks to her German roots. Egg hunts are said to have been a part of her childhood, and a family tradition that she carried on.
Apparently the Easter bunny was originally not a rabbit. Theorists suggest that Eostre the fertility goddess was also represented by hares. These are known for even great fertility than rabbits, which is really saying something! But hares only started being associated with Easter in C17. German immigrants popularised the symbolism of egg-laying Easter bunnies in C18.
Much like the Santa phenomenon, folklore suggested that Easter bunnies would give brightly-painted eggs as gifts to children who had been GOOD. Also much like pagan Christmas- salvation by good works. Thus kids started leaving nests, and later baskets, in their gardens, waiting for the bunnies to fill them with eggs.
Easter was not always a family holiday centred around children though. It has also been marked by strange traditions such as throwing eggs in church. Priests would throw a hard-boiled egg at a choir boy, who would then toss it to his peers. Whoever was holding the egg when the clock struck midnight was allowed to keep the egg as a prize.
Egg rolling is another hilarious tradition in northern Britain, particularly Cumbria. Children would gather at the top of a grassy hill and roll their hard-boiled decorated eggs downhill. This tradition is still widely practised today, including at the White House! It has often been accused of ruining turf.
But this Easter I want to dwell on Jesus’ resurrection as the ultimate new life, and consequently my own rebirth and renewal.
And the sealed tomb from which Messiah’s life bursts forth.
And the providence of the Ancient of Days, Creator of seasons and nature, who has embedded truths in what He has made, that are fulfilled in Christ.
Amen.
Image Credit: Vintage RS / Stocksnap
Um… There is no link between “Eostre” (Proto-Germanic “*aostron-“, “dawn”) and “oestrogen” (from Greek οίστρος, “a gadfly”). Nor is there any clear evidence of a goddess Eostre, apart from Bede. The Anglo Saxons don’t seem to have named their seasons after gods, but after the features of the season. Summer is the half year (related to semi), Spring is when the crops spring, Winter is from the old source of “wet”, Harvest (German “Herbst”) is the Autumn harvest…
So Eosturmonað is most likely when the sun begins rising above the horizon in the East.
We can laugh at people who say Christians took over Ishan Easter, because it’s a case of modern island trying to take over Christian Pascha.
THE OTHER CHEEK
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Eostre, Oestrogen, and Easter
Posted on 17/04/2025 by Charles Brammall
Easter rabbit
Charles Brammall rabbits on about Easter.
I didn’t grow up going to church on Good Friday- it wasn’t part of my denomination’s expression of piety. But for the last few years I have started going along with my wife, and it is wonderful! I weep, at Jesus’ death on my behalf, and marvel at the forgiveness He has won me. It is deeply existentially, viscerally, ontologically moving.
The relationship between Christian Easter and pagan traditions is a tangled and much-debated one, with interwoven threads of theology, history, culture and fantasy.
The word Easter in English (Ostern in German) appears to have pagan roots.
According to the C18 historian Bede, it derives from Ēostre (or Ostara), a spring goddess in Anglo-Saxon paganism, associated with fertility and renewal. Her name is also the origin of the word “estrogen”. Most other languages use a variant of Pascha, from the Hebrew Pesach (Passover), directly tying it to the Jewish roots of the Christian holiday. In France it is Pâques; Spain, “Pascua”; and Holland, “Pasen”.
But although associated with spring and fertility, Oestre was for some reason known as the “destroyer”.
The symbols of eggs and bunnies are also allegedly connected to her, as they celebrate new life, and the bursting forth from a “cocoon” of un-aliveness. (Think of Jesus’ cocoon-like tomb.)
So the name “Easter” probably has pagan etymology, but the event it refers to— Jesus’ coming back to life- is obviously well and truly rooted in Judeo-Christian tradition.
Easter is a moveable feast, calculated as the first Sunday after the first full moon, following the spring equinox. This ties it loosely to the rhythms of nature and the agricultural calendar- things pagans were also quite fond of celebrating.
Pagan spring festivals (eg those honoring Ēostre or fertility gods like Attis, Tammuz, or Dionysus) often celebrated new life, rebirth, and the end of winter. These themes of rebirth and renewal are obviously present in Christian Easter, but now focus on Jesus’ resurrection as the ultimate new life.
So while there’s thematic overlap, the meaning is dramatically different.
The Easter bunny and Easter eggs are obviously not in the Bible. But Christians later “baptised” these symbols, using eggs, for example, to represent the sealed tomb from which life (in this case Christ’s) bursts forth.
So these symbols were adapted; but not adopted wholesale. Like many Christian practices, Easter absorbed and reinterpreted local customs.
Some people see this overlap as syncretism- Christianity blending with paganism to win converts. Others (me included) see it as providence: that God, Creator of seasons and nature, embedded truths in creation that are fulfilled in Christ.
C.S. Lewis opined: “Myths and symbols across cultures are echoes of the true myth– the gospel. The pagan longing for rebirth finds its true satisfaction in Christ’s resurrection,”
So Christian Easter is not a pagan holiday in disguise. It commemorates a historical and theological event- the resurrection of Jesus the Nazarene.
But like many Christian feasts, it has grown up in conversation with the culture around it, sometimes absorbing and reinterpreting elements that point, albeit tangentially, to the truth it proclaims.
One the alleged reasons we have eggs, especially with red on them, is related to a fable about Mary Magdalene. She apparently brought a basket of boiled eggs to share with other women at Jesus’ tomb, three days after his death. When the gigantic boulder was rolled back at sunrise, they found the tomb empty. At this point, all eggs in the basket turned red. Hmmm…
Another tale suggests that Mary took some eggs with her to Jesus’ crucifixion. Blood dripped down from his wounds to fall on the eggs and coloured them red.
Legends aside, coloured eggs have been a prominent symbol of Easter for many centuries. Until the C19, actual boiled eggs were decorated and used as Easter eggs.
In Eastern Europe they still use vinegar and dyes to colour the eggs. Called “Pysanka”, the tradition of ornate eggs only came to the USA with the immigration of Ukrainian immigrants.
And, fun fact- apparently boiling eggs with onion skin turns them golden. Give it a try!
Artificial eggs, sometimes made with chocolate and often containing small gifts, started showing up in France and Germany in the early part of C19, and in Britain in 1873.
Even Queen Victoria allegedly adored the festival, thanks to her German roots. Egg hunts are said to have been a part of her childhood, and a family tradition that she carried on.
Apparently the Easter bunny was originally not a rabbit. Theorists suggest that Eostre the fertility goddess was also represented by hares. These are known for even great fertility than rabbits, which is really saying something! But hares only started being associated with Easter in C17. German immigrants popularised the symbolism of egg-laying Easter bunnies in C18.
Much like the Santa phenomenon, folklore suggested that Easter bunnies would give brightly-painted eggs as gifts to children who had been GOOD. Also much like pagan Christmas- salvation by good works. Thus kids started leaving nests, and later baskets, in their gardens, waiting for the bunnies to fill them with eggs.
Easter was not always a family holiday centred around children though. It has also been marked by strange traditions such as throwing eggs in church. Priests would throw a hard-boiled egg at a choir boy, who would then toss it to his peers. Whoever was holding the egg when the clock struck midnight was allowed to keep the egg as a prize.
Egg rolling is another hilarious tradition in northern Britain, particularly Cumbria. Children would gather at the top of a grassy hill and roll their hard-boiled decorated eggs downhill. This tradition is still widely practised today, including at the White House! It has often been accused of ruining turf.
But this Easter I want to dwell on Jesus’ resurrection as the ultimate new life, and consequently my own rebirth and renewal.
And the sealed tomb from which Messiah’s life bursts forth.
And the providence of the Ancient of Days, Creator of seasons and nature, who has embedded truths in what He has made, that are fulfilled in Christ.
Amen.
Image Credit: Vintage RS / Stocksnap
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18/04/2025
Peter R GREEN
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Um… There is no link between “Eostre” (Proto-Germanic “*aostron-“, “dawn”) and “oestrogen” (from Greek οίστρος, “a gadfly”). Nor is there any clear evidence of a goddess Eostre, apart from Bede. The Anglo Saxons don’t seem to have named their seasons after gods, but after the features of the season. Summer is the half year (related to semi), Spring is when the crops spring, Winter is from the old source of “wet”, Harvest (German “Herbst”) is the Autumn harvest…
So Eosturmonað is most likely when the sun begins rising above the horizon in the East.
We can laugh at people who say Christians took over pagan Easter, because it’s a case of modern pagans trying to take over Christian Pascha.
[Corrected version]