Easter, a Biblical Holiday?

Easter is commonly known as a Christian holiday celebrated on the first Sunday of spring. It’s a day that Christ was resurrected from dying on the cross. It is also a day of communion with the church and other believers. The tradition is to engage children in egg hunts and bunny decorations all arrayed with light blue, pink, green, and yellow colors. Happy resurrection day, right?

Unfortunately, this couldn’t be anymore twisted and backwards. Egg hunts and bunnies are not Biblical symbols for anything. They were a large part of European spring traditions for thousands of years before they found they were adopted by Christians..

What The Word Easter Means.

Easter is a word in one verse in the Bible. Acts 12:4 KJV. However it was originally an English/Greek miss translation of the Aramaic word Pascha which meant Passover (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: G3957, G3958). If Easter really means Passover, shouldn’t Christians find out where Passover is in the Bible and how to celebrate it? Of course! Passover is a Biblical celebration established when The Most High God brought Israel out of Egypt Exodus 12. The Israelites were to kill a lamb, roast it, smear its blood over their door post and eat it. It was a feast commemorating the protection of The Almighty God from the Egyptians. And whose plague of vengeance “passed over” them while the Egyptians suffered death. 

Biblical Passover.

 A majority of The Most High God’s Holy Feast days are located in the book Leviticus. This book explains the Biblical feast, rituals, meanings, feasts scheduling and other laws. The tribe of Levites were responsible for keeping up with the feasts and its rituals.The book of Leviticus, chapter 23, reveals a richness and importance of his holidays all plainly written in order.

Leviticus 23: 2-7 KJV

2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the Lord, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.

3 Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings.

4 These are the feasts of the Lord, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.

5 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord’s passover.

6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the Lord: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.

7 In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.”

Verse Interpretation.

The Most High reiterates keeping the Sabbath holy. Not only is it a day of rest but now it is a holy feast day. The Sabbath marks the first day of the Passover feast. These feast are holy convocations ( massive gatherings of people). The Passover begins on the second Sabbath of the first month. Which is usually about the 14th day of the month. At even (evening, Twilight, sundown) the Passover begins. The tradition of the Passover is as follows in Exodus 12 and on the day after is a seven day eating (feasting) of unleavened bread (no yeast in any of the food). 

When To Celebrate Biblical Passover.

The first month described in Leviticus is not the same as the modern calendar first month. Abib/Nissan is the actual first month of the Bible, not January as we think of in the west. The month Abib/Nissan starts during the spring according to the Babylonian calendar (Exodus 13:4, 34:18. Deuteronomy 16:1. 1 Esdras 5:6).. In the west, this month is March. Although we view March as the third month of the year, according to English etymology and the ancient Roman calendar, it is the first month of the year. Therefore the second Sabbath of March starts the Passover which was approximately March 12th this year, last month.

The tradition of killing a lamb is unnecessary now that we are living in the New Testament, Christ is now the lamb offering of the New Covenant because of his death, the Passover lamb is symbolic instead of literal. The only things needed are unleavened bread, organic grape juice or vegan red wine, and a decent meal. Christ also celebrated the Passover. Luke 22:7-22 KJV

Supporting Bible Verses.

Verse 7: Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the Passover must be killed.

Verse 17-20 “17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: 18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. 19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”

These verses explain that the Biblical Passover from Old Testament elevated to a more spiritual convocation. No more need to kill a lamb because Christ is the lamb. No more temple to take an offering to. All there is to do is remember it, have communion to honor Christ and eat unleavened bread for 7 days.

The Pagan Traditions of Modern Christian Easter/ Passover.

The Easter that most Christians celebrate today is an age-old Celtic spring solstice tradition in honor of multiple spring Goddesses. The main goddess honored during the Easter/spring equinox is Ostara/Eostre. The equinox was a very magical time of year for the Germans, Celts and other groups in Europe. This holiday was celebrated a day after the full moon in spring. Apparently there are equal hours for daytime and night time. The popular tradition is rolling colored eggs in a field to ensure better crop growth, and drawing bunnies or hares everywhere.

Easter Symbols.

The egg is a global pagan symbol of life, death, and rebirth. The bunny/hare is seen throughout Europe during the height of spring and are the symbols of fertility. They can give birth to two litters of babies in a single pregnancy. For more information read Ostara: Customs, Spells & Rituals for the Rites of Spring. By Edain McCoy. & Christian Mythology: Revelations of Pagan Origins by Philippe Walter, Simon and Sichuster, 2014.

The symbology of the eggs and hares are extremely important to the pagan and Wiccan communities. They use them for good luck charms and spells. While Christians are buying the eggs for their children, pagan parents are doing the same. The two religions are now the same in today’s modern western society. 

Conclusion

Some Christians have merged the legitimacy of pagan traditions into the Biblical religion by comparing the similar underlying concept of rebirth. Christ was resurrected not reborn at Passover. It’s about a spiritual evolution, a triumph over a vicious cycle of life and death. Christ destroyed the power of death and gave us an everlasting life! The pagans celebrate the vicious cycle happily instead. This is not the same as the Biblical meaning and the two holidays shouldn’t have ever fused together. 

Lets make an effort to celebrate the Biblical Passover instead of Easter next year. Every action, thought or reaction is done by choice. There is no obligation to do anything but there is always a choice on whether to do it or not. Nonetheless lets be better than the Pharisees that even Christ hated.

1 Corinthians 10:20-22. 

“20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.

22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

Mark 7:6-9 “6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”