Why easter.

[reubenabraham]

First let me introduce myself.

I was born of a Jewish mother & a non practicing Catholic father.

I was primarily raised Catholic however I now attend a Baptist Church.
But I consider myself a Born again Christian in relationship with Christ.

I do believe that there are very fundamental similarities between the Catholic church & born again Chritians {The trinity, the Virgin birth,}

I have posted on different forums

My main agenda here is that as I read more of the Bible and look at how & why we celebrate easter is to ask the churches to move easter (Pasqua in Italy) to the right date.
Here is some quotes
Easter is the festival commemorating the resurrection of Christ, observed in the Christian churches today. By the first Christian, it was considered to continue the feast of the Passover, at which the paschal lamb, a symbol of Christ, was sacrificed. Hence, its name in Greek, French,and other Roman languages is taken from Hebrew "Pesach" = Passover. The English name comes from the Anglo-Saxon "Eastre" - a goddess of light or spring, whose festival was celebrated in April. (http://www.entourages.com/barbs/easterfacts.htm)

Scholars, accepting the derivation proposed by the 8th-century English scholar St. Bede, believe the name Easter is thought to come from the Scandinavian "Ostra" and the Teutonic "Ostern" or "Eastre," both Goddesses of mythology signifying spring and fertility whose festival was celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox

Traditions associated with the festival survive in the Easter rabbit, a symbol of fertility, and in colored easter eggs, originally painted with bright colors to represent the sunlight of spring, and used in Easter-egg rolling contests or given as gifts (http://www.holidays.net/easter/story.htm)

Jesus (the Son)celebrated the Passover & God (the father)asked us to foreever celebrate it in Exodus. So why are we not following the teachings.

From a Papal perspective it would acknowledge our Jewish religious heritage and it would show the world that the God of Abrahm, Isaac & Jacob is the same as Jesus. It would show reconcilations on our part toward our Jewish religious ancestors.

So I ask you all to consider or study the true meaning of Passover & Easter.

Which one is the true Holy Day ordained by God & which one is
a Pagan celebration that has infiltrated the church

 

[AMDG]

At the time Jesus was crucified, the feast of Passover was approaching. Then in three days Jesus rose from the dead. And we celebrate His Ressurrection. We celebrate His Ressurrection on Easter. Jesus has saved us sort of like the lambs saved the ancient Hebrews. Jesus is our "Lamb of God", and His Sacrifice doesn't have to be repeated. (Of course we make present, again, His death and Ressurrection at each Mass and especially on the feast celebrating it--Easter. If I may be so bold, you should go to an Easter vigil. It's awesome.)

With all due respect for your scholars, if this was only a pagan feast from the 8th century, how does one explain the three-phase controversy (called the Quartodeciman Controversy) over the time for the celebration of Easter? In about 190, Pope St. Victor I, over the objections of some who wanted to celebrate it on the 14th day of Nisan ordered a Sunday observance of the feast. Then in 325, the Council of Nicaea decreed that Easter be observed on the first Sunday following the first full moon of spring. Uniformity, however, wasn't achieved until much later. (BTW unrelated to the controversy is the fact that some Eastern Churches still celebrate Easter at a different time than the Roman and Eastern-Rite Church.)

 

[MomWhoThinks]

I believe that Jesus was our passover lamb. He made the ultimate sacrifice one and for all. Yes, "Easter" was a pagan holiday, but as those pagans converted to Christianity, their celebrations were changed as well. Easter is the name the church chose to call the day we remember the resurrection of our Savior.

 

[Angeldove97]

Just because the beginnings of Easter may have been pagan, doesn't mean the holiday is still pagan. Those who celebrate Easter for the reason if it being the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior aren't celebrating a pagan holiday... they're celebrating a religious holiday. Passover, to me, represents the Jewish remembrance of what happened all those years ago when God protected them and their families. Both are very important, don't get me wrong, but I don't see why I need to celebrate them on the same day. I'm fine with both having their own days of rememberance.

 

[hsilgne]

Those who celebrate Easter for the reason if it being the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior aren't celebrating a pagan holiday... they're celebrating a religious holiday.... I'm fine with both having their own days of rememberance.

If we wanted to start eliminating anything that has pagan roots we would have to create a new calendar and stop wearing wedding rings.(among many other traditions that are prevelant in todays culture).

God knows our hearts and He has given us the Church to help keep us on the right path. She's doing a fine job of it too - just like Jesus promised.

 

[anawim]

First let me introduce myself.

I was born of a Jewish mother & a non practicing Catholic father.

I was primarily raised Catholic however I now attend a Baptist Church.
But I consider myself a Born again Christian in relationship with Christ.

I do believe that there are very fundamental similarities between the Catholic church & born again Chritians {The trinity, the Virgin birth,}

I have posted on different forums

My main agenda here is that as I read more of the Bible and look at how & why we celebrate easter is to ask the churches to move easter (Pasqua in Italy) to the right date.
Here is some quotes
Easter is the festival commemorating the resurrection of Christ, observed in the Christian churches today. By the first Christian, it was considered to continue the feast of the Passover, at which the paschal lamb, a symbol of Christ, was sacrificed. Hence, its name in Greek, French,and other Roman languages is taken from Hebrew "Pesach" = Passover. The English name comes from the Anglo-Saxon "Eastre" - a goddess of light or spring, whose festival was celebrated in April. (http://www.entourages.com/barbs/easterfacts.htm)

Scholars, accepting the derivation proposed by the 8th-century English scholar St. Bede, believe the name Easter is thought to come from the Scandinavian "Ostra" and the Teutonic "Ostern" or "Eastre," both Goddesses of mythology signifying spring and fertility whose festival was celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox

Traditions associated with the festival survive in the Easter rabbit, a symbol of fertility, and in colored easter eggs, originally painted with bright colors to represent the sunlight of spring, and used in Easter-egg rolling contests or given as gifts (http://www.holidays.net/easter/story.htm)

Jesus (the Son)celebrated the Passover & God (the father)asked us to foreever celebrate it in Exodus. So why are we not following the teachings.

From a Papal perspective it would acknowledge our Jewish religious heritage and it would show the world that the God of Abrahm, Isaac & Jacob is the same as Jesus. It would show reconcilations on our part toward our Jewish religious ancestors.

So I ask you all to consider or study the true meaning of Passover & Easter.

Which one is the true Holy Day ordained by God & which one is
a Pagan celebration that has infiltrated the church

There are only two languages in which the name has any pagan associations whatsoever -- English and German. In English, of course, the name is "Easter" and in German "Ostern."

But in virtually every language except English and German, the celebration of Easter is derived from the Jewish word Pesach or "Passover." Thus in Latin the term is Paschal. In Greek the term for Easter is Pascha. From there it passed into the Romance languages, and so in Spanish it is Pascua, in Italian it is Pasqua, in French it is Paques, and in Portugese it is Pascoa. It also passed into the non-Romance languages, such as Dutch, where it is Pachsen, and Danish, where it is Paaske. In Scotch and in Swedish, Pask; and the German dialect along the lower Rhine, Paisken.

Throughout the 2,000 years of Catholic history, the official name for the Resurection has always been Pascal.

 

[reubenabraham]

1-In responding to ANAWIM- If "Throughout the 2,000 years of Catholic history, the official name for the Resurection has always been Pascal."Should we not then use the term Pascal celebration? Should wethen not celebrate the start of the Resurection with the Passover meal as Jesus did? The Passover meal was ordained by the Father(Jesus); and Jesus( Father) also stated " do this in remeberance of me. So the Passover is a critical Holy Day going back to show us how the Father saved the Israelites and how the he sent his Son to save us all. The Passover experience was the foretelling of the coming of the Son. Jews for Jesus are selling a book called Jesus in the Passover. So going back to my point has the Christian movement moved away from their foundation should we not return and celebrate the Passover which was the start of Passion week before the Resurection?

2-In responding to hsilgne- I believe the stronger point I was trying to make is that Jesus celebrated the Passover, pagans celebrated the goddess ostre(sp?) & the equinox. Mt point is should we not use Jesus as our model?

3-Angel Dove Some parts of Easter are pagan; the eggs for fertility & the rabbit. The Passover was God the Father showing the Israelites that he would be sending his son. It is more than a day of rememberance. It is the foretellin the foreshadowing of Jesus coming. My point is that Passion week should begin with the Passover just as Jesus did before His arrest.

4-AMGD- I was living in Europe from 1954 to 1960. Attended a Catholic Boarding School run by the Salesian order (Don Bosco)
and attended Easter Vigils. The point I am trying to make is to look at the early Christians and do as they did and begin the Resurection celebration at Passover. I believe if we are truly to understanf Jesus our Lord and savior we must get a deeper understanding on how the Father worked in the times before He sent his son.

 

[anawim]

1-In responding to ANAWIM- If "Throughout the 2,000 years of Catholic history, the official name for the Resurection has always been Pascal."Should we not then use the term Pascal celebration?

Catholics do.

Should we then not celebrate the start of the Resurection with the Passover meal as Jesus did? The Passover meal was ordained by the Father(Jesus); and Jesus( Father) also stated " do this in remeberance of me. So the Passover is a critical Holy Day going back to show us how the Father saved the Israelites and how the he sent his Son to save us all. The Passover experience was the foretelling of the coming of the Son. Jews for Jesus are selling a book called Jesus in the Passover. So going back to my point has the Christian movement moved away from their foundation should we not return and celebrate the Passover which was the start of Passion week before the Resurection?

We celebrate the Pascal mystery at every Mass, each and every day. The Mass is the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection, all rolled into one celebration.

 

[hsilgne]

2-In responding to hsilgne- I believe the stronger point I was trying to make is that Jesus celebrated the Passover, pagans celebrated the goddess ostre(sp?) & the equinox. Mt point is should we not use Jesus as our model?

Yes, we should use Jesus as our model, and as Catholics we do.

I think it was wise to inject Jesus into the celebrations of the pagans. It has proven to be a great witnessing tool and has brought many of those pagans out of the darkness and into the light.

The same goes for the winter solstice(sp?). Now everyone knows this time of year as CHRISTmas - thanks to the injection of Jesus into that celebration.

Converting these pagan celebrations into Christian celebrations is a good thing, IMO. For me, it brings to mind one of the promises Jesus made to His Church as well...

19
I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

 

[Rhamiel]

easter is just the english name right?

 

[AMDG]

4-AMGD- ... The point I am trying to make is to look at the early Christians and do as they did and begin the Resurection celebration at Passover.

Then you would probably be among the Quartodecimans who wanted the date to be retained as the 14th day of Nisan. However, in 190, Pope St. Vincent, a successor of Peter who Jesus chose to lead His Church decided on Sunday, and then in 325, an ecumenical Council (the Bishops in union with the Pope and so protected by the Holy Spirit from leading Jesus' Church into error) chose the present date of the first Sunday following the first full moon of spring. The point I am making is that the Catholic Church acts on the words of Jesus and His promises, there is no need to "go back in time to the beginnings" and try to "reinvent the wheel".

 

[Foundthelight]

On Easter I celebrate Christ and His resurrection. It does not matter what celebration the pagans had at that time of year. I have spoken with many such as the OP who would seek to lessen our faith by linking it with something pagan. It is similar to the question of meat sacrificed to idols that St. Paul addressed. Statements such as those made by the OP are merely the work of Satan trying to turn the weak in faith. It is an attempt to prey on superstition.

A solstice observance, new year observance, spring observance, harvest observance, and many more are all common to most, if not all, societies. All these observances come from pagan man's imperfect recognition that there is a higher power, a God. We Christians know and worship that God, because he brings us longer days, a springtime for planting, a harvest. He gave us His son in perfect sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sin.

We know that Idols and pagan gods are not real. Meat sacrificed to something not real and days celebrated for something not real mean nothing to us. I suggest that the OP read St. Paul's letters.

 

[Gwendolyn]

3-Angel Dove Some parts of Easter are pagan; the eggs for fertility & the rabbit. The Passover was God the Father showing the Israelites that he would be sending his son. It is more than a day of rememberance. It is the foretellin the foreshadowing of Jesus coming. My point is that Passion week should begin with the Passover just as Jesus did before His arrest.

Bunnies have nothing to do with the religious celebration of Pascha. They're related to the secular celebration.

As far as the Easter Egg tradition is concerned - actually, before the whole goddess thing, remember that all Christians held a fast. As part of this Pascha fast, they gave up eggs. So when the time fame for the Pascha feast, when eggs were re-introduced into the diet, ti was a big deal - today we don't think too much about it because we have many sources of protein etc., and eggs are so abundant. But for mainly agrarial communities where eggs were a major source of their diet... the absence of eggs was very significant. Therefore as part of the celebration of the evening meal, the eggs would be brought to the table, sometimes decorated.

It was only when evangelising the barbarians who believed in this egg-laying bunny goddess that "Easter Eggs" took on another meaning - same to symbolise also rebirth, and the Resurrection of the Lord.

Most people choose to focus on the egg-laying bunny goddess than the actual origin of "easter eggs".

 

[Angeldove97]

I don't include the pagan parts (eggs and bunny) when I celebrate Easter. Easter is to remember Jesus... so I think it's fine we start with Palm Sunday. Passover is a different but very important holiday too, it's celebrated at it's own time. I don't see the need to include both in one "holiday time".

 

[reubenabraham]

Angel Dove I am glad you dont include the eggs & the bunny. I think the concept most Christians have is exactly what you say " The Passover is a different Holy Day" I think that is not the case.

The Passover is a reminder how God the Father has saved us in the past
The resurection is a confirmation of how God the Son saves us now. Since they are one & the same there is no difference.

You mention Palm Sunday. If you go to Matthew 21 that is Jesus's triumphant re-entry. Jesus teaches through parables in the next chapters until we get to Matthew 26:
17On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?" 18He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.' " 19So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.


So my question again & you have actually helped me see it more clearly. If the resurection celebration start with Palm Sunday (Matthew 21) and continues with passion week why did the Church eliminate only Passover? Why was the Passover important to Jesus and not to the early church fathers?

 

[reubenabraham]

AMGD= "The point I am making is that the Catholic Church acts on the words of Jesus and His promises, there is no need to "go back in time to the beginnings" and try to "reinvent the wheel".

Well I'am not trying to re-invent the wheel the debate should focus on whether the Resurection celebration should be celebrated after the first full moon after the vernal equinox which has no scriptural basis or on Passover. See Matthew 26 "The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.' " 19So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

The theological question I have is why has the church ( both protestan & Catholic)eliminated this from the Passion week.

Jesus knew his time was coming Why did he celebrate the Passover?
He did not say do not this He said do this in remeberance of me.

So if the church is to act on the words of Jesus; He directed Peter to Celebrate the Passover and hence we should continue.

 

[Foundthelight]

The theological question I have is why has the church ( both protestan & Catholic)eliminated this from the Passion week.

Jesus knew his time was coming Why did he celebrate the Passover?
He did not say do not this He said do this in remeberance of me.

Passover was, and is, for the nation of Israel in remembrance of God saving them from the Egyptians. If I were a Christian Jew I would celebrate it just as Jesus did.

I am not of the nation of Israel. I am a Gentile Christian. What I and Jewish Christians are commanded to do in common is partake of the Body and Blood of Christ, as you have pointed out.

 

[prodromos]

"Ostern" is the old teutonic German word for "resurrection". Venerable Bede was not a linguist.

John

 

[AMDG]

the debate should focus on whether the Resurection celebration should be celebrated after the first full moon after the vernal equinox which has no scriptural basis or on Passover. See Matthew 26 "The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.' " 19So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

Actually I didn't think it was a "debate", I thought only honest questions were asked here.

Furthermore, Jesus is our Passover--which is actually celebrated at every Mass.

As far as Jesus' Church acting on His words, Jesus' words (referring to His Apostles) were also "He who hears you, hears me". Well, the successor of the one He chose to head His Church (and so also has Jesus' authority) indicated the date that the Ressurrection (Easter) would be celebrated.

 

[anawim]

Why was the Passover important to Jesus and not to the early church fathers?

The Passover=Mass