As April unfolds, Easter takes center stage, blending ancient traditions with modern celebrations. Though often associated with egg hunts, chocolate bunnies, and (depending on one’s faith) the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Easter’s ancient origins reveal a fascinating history. What many do not realize is that Easter began as a pagan festival. Despite its transformations, Easter remains a time for family, friends, and reflection. So, grab a chocolate bunny or a golden egg and journey back to the 8th century to uncover Easter’s roots.
Eostre, Easter, Eastre, oh my!
Why is Easter called “Easter”? While the exact origins are debated, the most plausible explanation is that the name stems from the Old Germanic calendar’s Ōstarmānod, or the month of Eostre. Eostre, also known as Ostara or Eastre, was the pagan goddess of spring, fertility, and dawn. She was revered by the Anglo-Saxons of southeastern England, a blend of Germanic, Danish, and Dutch tribes. Eostre’s association with spring rituals likely contributed to symbols like bunnies and hares, emblematic of fertility. Celebrations during the spring equinox marked the start of the agricultural cycle, when farmers sowed seeds in anticipation of the harvest. Interestingly, the word “Eastre” eventually evolved into “Easter,” connecting the pagan goddess to the modern holiday.
With the history of the name Easter out of the way, it is time for the next journey: Pennsylvania in the 1700s, when a bunch of German immigrants brought their ancient tradition of the egg-laying hare called the Easter Bunny. The original name was “Osterhare,” with another version called “Oschter Haws.” Children made nests in which the hare would lay colored eggs, similar to the Christmas tradition of Santa Claus planting presents under the big tree (which also came from Germany). This then morphed through periods into the iconic Easter Bunny and decorated eggs, which eventually became symbols of the resurrection of Jesus. Intriguingly, decorating Easter eggs goes way back to the 13th century, since consuming eggs during Lent (a time of fasting and repentance) was prohibited. The Catholic Church encouraged decorating eggs and eating them on Easter to honor their religious practice.
As many know, Easter was on March 31 in 2024, but it fell on April 9 the previous year. The weird thing about Easter is that it leaps days, instead of following the February leap years, shifting between dates as early as March 22 or as late as April 25. That’s because Easter follows the ancient agricultural cycle of the spring equinox. This is important because, during this time, the Earth’s orbit is equal causing the hemispheres to get equal amounts of sunlight. This balance leads to longer sunny days and shorter nights after the winter equinox.
The Catholic Church decided that Easter should be the Sunday after the full moon, while simultaneously following the rotation of the moon. It took significant debate, as other branches of the Catholic Church worldwide—such as those in Asia Minor—followed the Jewish Passover feast, which falls on the 14th day of the first full moon during spring. Soon, the Council of Nicaeadecided in 325 that Easter should be observed on the Sunday after the Spring Equinox and the full moon. Although this was decreed by the Council, Eastern Orthodox churches used a different method, relying on the Julian (or Julius Caesar) calendar, which is 13 days ahead of the Gregorian calendar. Orthodox tradition also forbids Easter from being celebrated before or during the Passover Feast.
Now, fast forward to modern times, and Easter has become more of a symbol for Christian churches, especially in the United States, where Easter is considered the most important holiday. Far more important than Christmas, churches began reading their Bibles to their congregations from the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). This transformed Easter’s pagan origins into a celebration of God’s victory over sin and death, a testament to how God cannot be defeated. The holiday highlights how He fulfilled Old Testament prophecies and revealed His plan to save all of mankind. Not surprisingly, churches report that Easter is the time when attendance is at its highest, following Christmas and Mother’s Day, according to The Pathway.
“Easter is the day when the most church members get to church—and for a good reason: No other theme is as profound to a Christian than celebrating that they died with Christ and as Jesus was raised to life, so too Christians are now alive to God in Christ Jesus, ” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. This idea ties to spring’s symbolism of new beginnings and transformations, with eggs representing new life.
While there are major differences between the past and current versions of Easter, the similarities should not be overlooked. The deeper message for the people is to change and re-evaluate themselves into someone better—that’s the beauty of spring. Just as spring revives the lilies in the grass, so should humans revive humility in each other and treat one another with respect. That’s the legacy that has been passed down time and time again.