mcmstaff78
05-09-2007, 02:49 PM
"Easter" basically means, or certainly refers to, "passover", or "Pascha", as it actually is in the Greek (and is still used in reference to the day in all non-Germanic languages). The whole "Easter" = "Eoster" is a myth perpetrated by atheists and pagans. In fact, there is no evidence of a Germanic or Anglo-Saxxon "goddes" named "Eoster". She was postulated by certain 19th century Germanic scholars in an attempt to explain the etymology of the word. These same scholars (foremost among them the Grimm brothers, famous for their folk-tale collections and less well-known as the discoverers of the Indo-European linguistic family) had a very definite nationalist/ethnic agenda in which they were trying to rediscover the real roots of German culture. Thus the folk-tale collection’s avowed purpose was to search for survivals of pre-Christian Germanic religion and culture.
The later connection of this invented figure to Astarte was sheer fundamentalist propaganda based on a coincidental similarity in sound. Having dismissed Nativity/Christmas because its timing coincides with a number of pagan solar festivals, those fundamentalist groups which criticise all celebration of holy days thereby sought to discredit Easter whose general timing is well laid out in the Bible. If there was a connection, it would be the only case of a Sumerian/Canaanite word coming into the Germanic languages without first passing through Hebrew and/or Greek into Latin and then into Germanic via the medium of Christianity.
Although the Grimm Brothers probably did conflate the issue, the goddess Eostre may be a valid concept. However, the only mention of a goddess Eostre is recorded in Bede’s 8th century De tempore Ratione (On the Reckoning of Time)—the book which helped popularise BC/AD dating. Since there is no other corroborating evidence Bede may be mistaken. However the term for Pascha was not named from this doubtful Goddess. Instead it is most likely that Easter (Pascha) comes from the Saxon month of Eostre (April) which was used for the spring period.
In other words, the term Easter no more honours Eostre than a Wednesday Night Service at your local Protestant church honours Odin (Wednesday = Woden’s Day).
While "Pascha" is certainly more scriptural (although to confuse Pascha with the Jewish celebration of Passover is to incur the anathema of at least one Ecumenical council), "Easter" is a product of the vibrant Christianity of the Anglo-Saxon Church which, unlike later periods, did not suppress the resident culture in favour of an all-embracing Latinism but rather transformed (in accord with the guidelines given to St. Augustine of Canterbury by St. Gregory the Great) the entire language and culture. Christian England never called the feast anything but Easter.
(Message edited by mcmstaff78 on May 09, 2007)
The later connection of this invented figure to Astarte was sheer fundamentalist propaganda based on a coincidental similarity in sound. Having dismissed Nativity/Christmas because its timing coincides with a number of pagan solar festivals, those fundamentalist groups which criticise all celebration of holy days thereby sought to discredit Easter whose general timing is well laid out in the Bible. If there was a connection, it would be the only case of a Sumerian/Canaanite word coming into the Germanic languages without first passing through Hebrew and/or Greek into Latin and then into Germanic via the medium of Christianity.
Although the Grimm Brothers probably did conflate the issue, the goddess Eostre may be a valid concept. However, the only mention of a goddess Eostre is recorded in Bede’s 8th century De tempore Ratione (On the Reckoning of Time)—the book which helped popularise BC/AD dating. Since there is no other corroborating evidence Bede may be mistaken. However the term for Pascha was not named from this doubtful Goddess. Instead it is most likely that Easter (Pascha) comes from the Saxon month of Eostre (April) which was used for the spring period.
In other words, the term Easter no more honours Eostre than a Wednesday Night Service at your local Protestant church honours Odin (Wednesday = Woden’s Day).
While "Pascha" is certainly more scriptural (although to confuse Pascha with the Jewish celebration of Passover is to incur the anathema of at least one Ecumenical council), "Easter" is a product of the vibrant Christianity of the Anglo-Saxon Church which, unlike later periods, did not suppress the resident culture in favour of an all-embracing Latinism but rather transformed (in accord with the guidelines given to St. Augustine of Canterbury by St. Gregory the Great) the entire language and culture. Christian England never called the feast anything but Easter.
(Message edited by mcmstaff78 on May 09, 2007)