Easter - eating chocolate eggs is a duty!
Easter might seem to be a particularly Christian affair but this is definitely not the case.
By Peter Webb
For a start, like many other seemingly Christian festivals, its traditions
come from many diverse non-Christian sources too. This does not make it
any less valid for those who do celebrate Easter as a Christian celebration,
but it does mean that it should be accessible to all and everyone - by people
from all and every background. Easter, like Christmas, comes at a time of
seasonal importance and this accounts for its universal appeal. In Britain
and Northern Europe both Christmas and Easter are both held on previously
Pagan festivals and it retains many of these characteristics, from its name
to the imagery of the Easter bunny and the Easter egg.
Apparently St. Bede, an eighth century scholar, wrote of the origins of
Easter as coming from the ancient Saxon festival of Eastre, the goddess
of fertility. Celebrated on the vernal equinox, this festival heralded the
coming of spring and offspring - it was a celebration of fertility. It seems
that when Christian missionaries came to pagan lands they pushed for the
festival to be reborn as a Christian celebration, whilst keeping the name
Eastre, which in turn became Easter.
The goddess Eastre's earth symbol was the rabbit - which is very appropriate
as rabbits are renowned for their fertility. The rabbit as a symbol of Easter
remained and the first recorded arrival of it again is in 16th century Germany.
Germany, too, is where edible bunnies originated. The rabbit even resurfaced
in Christian imagery, as representations of Christ, post-resurrection -
as a rabbit disappearing down one hole and out again from another.
The Easter egg too has a long and interesting history. Eggs have been symbols
of fertility and rebirth for thousands of years and the exchange of eggs
during springtime is a pagan tradition that predates Christianity. The giving
of chocolate eggs fits nicely with the breaking of the lent fast by Christians
at Easter, but it could also be seen as a celebration of springtime fertility
and so the end of tightening the belt during the winter.
The points highlighted above are only a few ways in how the traditions of
Easter have a wide and inclusive history. Easter is also related to the
Jewish Passover, which occurs at a similar time. This rich history outside
of any one religion (and outside religion in general) makes Easter worth
marking by all of us. It is the importance of the seasons and environment
during this time that makes it universal. Spring is here for everyone, regardless
of ideology or belief. It is essential that we all eat Easter eggs to celebrate
spring and say goodbye to winter. Enjoying great fresh spring food and drink
over Easter should also be prescribed.
Winter is now gone for another year; there will be no leaving to and returning
from work in the dark. The clocks have sprung forward and summer is not
far away. Because of this Easter is definitely worth enjoying.
