Easter - Pagan festival or not?
The following was sent to me by a dear sister who ministers in Ireland, I liked it, so I have added it to the hub, she is not a hubber.
The fact is that Christ has been subjected to identity theft with this Easter concept, and it's not just the bunny that's been doing it!.
My friend Nell wrote....
We do not celebrate "easter" or the bunnies or the egg thing.
The term "Easter" is not of Christian origin.
Easter started in Babylon.
It is another form of Astarte, one of the titles of the Chaldean (Babylonian) goddess.
The name Ishtar sounds like Easter.
They are the same.
The celebration of Istar included coloring eggs, an ancient symbol of fertility.
They even hid eggs for their children to find, just as it is practiced today.
It is a pagan festival which has been introduced into Christianity.
"Easter" comes from a idol goddess named "Istar" who was the goddess of fertility.
She was an idol with many eggs all over her body.
The rabbit, called the Easter Bunny, is a symbol of fertility.
Rabbits are known for their rapid reproduction: thus a symbol of fertility and a part of the ancient pagan celebration.
- Easter: (English)
- Eastre (Anglo-Saxon) is the Anglo Saxon "fertility goddess"
- Ishtar (Babylonian)is the Babylonian "fertility goddess"
- Ashtaroth (Hebrew) is the Hebrew name for the Canaanite "fertility goddess"
- Astarte (Greek)--is the Phoenician and Greek "fertility goddess"
This deception has been a part of the Christian church as long as I can remember.
We were taught on the death and ressurection of our Lord, but also participated in every aspect of the egg and bunny rabbit.
Sad, to say in my ignorance I also did the same for my own children and grandchildren.
Only until a few short years ago did I truly learn what this was and where it came from.
I found in my study of Leviticus chapter 23 the beauty of the 'Feast of the Lord" and how each one was a practice & portrayal of what was to come for all eternity. For any of you who may not have known this before I hope that you will do research as I did and find out the truth of each festival in Leviticus 23.
For those who still practice the pagan ritual of this time, perhaps you might consider studying to find the truth for yourself.
There is a multitude of information in books and on the internet. Just google "Ishtar" and you will be amazed at the amount of info.
We sincerely wish our Jewish friends a Happy Pesach and our Christian friends Happy Resurrection Sunday. We wish atheists 'good luck....you need it!'
For both family and friends we pray that when the "trumpet sounds" we will see each other and celebrate our salvation at the Marriage Supper of The Lamb.
As the hymn says
"Now the King of the ages approaches the earth, He will burst through the gates of the sky, And ALL men will bow down to His beautiful name, We SHALL RISE WITH A SHOUT, WE SHALL FLY"
The fact is that just because something looks good, cute and cosy, doesn't mean it is the real thing, nor good, cute and cosy..... our mutual enemy is a master of deception and will always attempt to offer a substitute for Christ, one that looks like the real thing, sounds like the real thing and acts ALMOST exactly the same.... that's what counterfeits are about.
You can only tell the difference when you KNOW the real thing!
