Happy Easter/Pasg Hapus dearest nerdlets!
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| Image by Couleur from Pixabay |
One of the most enduring symbols of Easter is eggs, dontcha think?
Chocolate eggs, painted eggs, eggs with chicks breaking out, eggs just randomly decorating everything!
But I've been noticing some egg-hate lately.
And I don't mean from Vegans - that's a whole different set of issues related to a different set of moral questions - nope, I mean from people who don't know much about history.
I legit. heard someone on a BBC programme on Friday (Britain's Easter Story) describe the way Easter has 'become' more about the pagan symbols of bunnies and eggs than about the Christian message.
If you're Christian, then I totally respect your belief in Jesus and the message of his dying for the sins of man and being resurrected on Easter Sunday.
I would like to politely point out that Easter is the piggy-backing of the crucifixion story onto pre-existing pagan beliefs and traditions.
(And Passover - which deserves a mention here. Happy Passover to those celebrating!)
This in no way takes away from that central Christian story - it just means when it came to write out the calendar, pagan festivals were usually co-opted in an attempt to supress them.
A couple of years ago, a door-to-door evangelist asked my mother if she felt Easter had lost its meaning. She told them no and sent them away, and later told me about it.
To which I responded, 'I'm pretty sure Easter's still as much about the Anglo-Saxon Goddess Eostre, the Spring Equinox, and fertility and rebirth, as it ever was.'
(This is what happens when you're raised by intellectual hippies, by the way. These responses just flow outta you!)
Easter has not 'become' about eggs and bunnies - they were always there.
If anything, it's 'become' about Jesus and Christianity.
That doesn't mean the Christian Easter can't a) be combined with the pagan symbols and b) be purely about Christianity with none of the pagan symbols, if it wants to be.
I think there's a point to be made that we all need to respect each other's beliefs - and also be honest about our history.
The fact that Easter did not originate with Christianity IN NO WAY DETRACTS FROM THE EASTER STORY.
But the Christian Easter story in no way detracts from the enduring appeal and symbolism of the things people have been drawn to for thousands of years - the Spring, new life, and rebirth.
Basically, be nice to each other, and don't be a jerk 😉
What are your plans for Easter dearest nerdlets?
Do you celebrate Easter, or not?
Talk to me! 😊💬
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Last updated: 28th April 2019
My mom, who is devoutly Catholic, likes to combine the religious symbols, and the more “fun” pagan symbols for Easter. I think a strictly religious Easter can be a bit intense, it’s nice to have a little fun with just some coloured eggs and some chocolate too!
ReplyDeleteMy mother assures me that Easter in Chapel was something to see - and some of the 'fire and brimstone' preachers at my grandmother's Welsh-language Chapel would've loved all the gory details, I'm sure! (An old-school Welsh-language Chapel minister is... something else! Think Puritans screaming in the language of the ancient Druids. Lol!)
DeleteYou can't miss out on the chocolate though - obviously! (I looooove chocolate!)
And Easter bonnets/parades are still quite a big thing here - especially for the li'l kids who even I have to admit are freaking adorable! :)