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2004-11-20 - 10:23 p.m. Ok, it was making me insanely angry that I could not remember the story so here we go.... "Easter is celebrated today as marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Although Easter is one of the most celebrated hoidays of the modern Christian church, the name Easter originally came from Eostre. Eostre was the ancient Greek goddess of spring. Pagan festivals were held every year to honor her because it was believed that she had returned and brought with her the light of day. This festival marked the return of longer days and it also coincided with the vernal equinox which is on the twenty-first day of March every year. The early Greeks did not fully understand at that time why the days became shorter and then turned longer again. They were afraid that if they did not worship the goddess of spring, that she would stop returning and the sunlight would not return either......Many symbols of Easter, which include eggs, rabbits, chicks, lilies, sunrise services, and a new outfit of clothing originated from early sources. Easter eggs represent the beginning of life. They were first colored by the pagans to resemble the returning sunlight as well as the northern lights in the sky. In later years, an ancient Christian legend told of the Virgin Mary giving eggs to the Roman soldiers. She begged them not to crucify her son....Rabbits and chicks represent the rebirth of the earth." (Retrieved from http://azaz.essortment.com/historyofeaste_rlem.htm) |
