History of Easter Traditions

Hi all! Melissa here. With Easter approaching, I’m reading about Easter traditions. I love understanding from where traditions came and the meaning behind them.

Lent

The 325 Council of Nicaea set the official date for both Christmas and Easter celebrations, and they also emphasized a 40-day fast leading up to Easter. Why 40? To emulate Christ’s 40 days of fasting during his temptation by Satan in the wilderness. Additionally, Moses fasted for 40 days after receiving the Ten Commandments, Elijah once fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, Noah was on the boat for 40 days, and the people of Israel wandered the wilderness for 40 years.

Sunrise Service

“…as time passed and Christianity became well established, some churches began to gather early in Easter to retrace the steps of the two Marys [who first discovered Jesus’ empty tomb].” Stories Behind the Traditions and Songs of Easter by Ace Collins

Easter Egg

“Many ancient civilizations, including the Persians, Phoenicians, Hindus, and Egyptians, believed the world began as an egg.” (Ace Collins)

While the egg was a symbol for many pagan cultures, it is also perfect for Christianity. The egg has always symbolized the beginning of life, and Christ’s sacrifice for us was the true beginning of life for humanity, a chance to be redeemed, a chance to be saved. Before a person is saved, it’s as if they are living inside a shell—darkness, muted, in many ways blind. Then we accept Christ as our savior, and we are born again.

The name “Easter”

The name “Easter” may have come from the name Oestre. Oestre was a pagan goddess with a rabbit head. A rabbit because rabbits symbolize fertility. “Many European tribes thought that she actually drove winter away and reawakened the world for its annual rebirth in spring.” (Ace Collins)

Just as Christ drives away evil and reawakens us to be reborn in Christ.

Easter Bunny

“A legend told of Oestre giving an audience to a bird. The bird looked into Oestre’s face and was overcome with the beauty it saw in the goddess’s rabbit-like features. Sensing the special nature of the rabbit, the bird asked the goddess to transform him into a rabbit… When the bird became a rabbit, it forgot everything about its former life except how to lay eggs. This bird’s eggs were then gathered by Oestre and presented to the world’s best children.” (Ace Collins)

Another association with a new life…being reborn. If we allow him, God can transform us into something entirely new.

 

But why is so much pagan tradition included in Christian holidays? I believe part of the reason is that God “set eternity in the human heart” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). We recognize deep truth. Ancient people didn’t know enough to understand the details. They didn’t know anything about Jesus, and many had no knowledge of the one true God. But they recognized deeper truths. And so certain traditions have always resonated across humanity.

Happy Easter, everyone.