Do you really know why we celebrate Easter and why it's the most important of the Christian holy days?

Answer 1

I know why I celebrate both holidays - for my Savior Jesus Christ.

Answer 2

It's an old Pagan festival. The egg symbolises rebirth - that's why it's held in the spring. When Christianity came to Western Europe it adopted many of the holy days that were already being celebrated by local tribes - that's why Christmas is held at mid-winter (symbolising the death of the old year, the darkest days before it starts getting lighter again).
The Feast of the Assumption ties-in with the pagan celebration of the May, when all living creatures are at their most fertile and there are loads more examples of old gods who have metamorphosed into saints over time and thus have their traditions celebrated on those particular days. This is one of the reasons why certain saints have more prevalence in some parts of the world than in others.
I suppose that as far as Christianity is concerned then Easter shows the true power of the Christ, but it certainly didn't originate there.

Answer 3

It's because it coincides with the pagan celebration of the start of Spring.

Almost all religions have holy dates that capitalise on ancient pagan rituals. The reason being that pagan rituals are a natural part of the human psyche because they came about purely due to practical and important things in the environment that emotionally affect humans.

The start of Spring represents the rebirth of life (no small coincidence here about Easter also representing the rising from the dead of Jesus) as that's when plants life refreshes and animals come out of hibernation, and begin to multiply etc. therefore there's more food beginning to be available, and the days begin to get longer.

So naturally it's always been something that held emotional importance to humans, and therefore been celebrated as an optimistic time.

Answer 4

Easter is named after the Goddess called Esther, Aster, Ashtaroth. Her worship is condemned in the Bible - "Thou shalt not make cakes for the Queen of Heaven", or- "They have walked after Baal and Astoreth". Thanks to her we have the Easter eggs, hot cross buns, Easter ham etc. Her child, Thammuz, was killed by a pig, hence the Easter ham. Her symbol was the rabbit, as she was a fertility goddess. The hot cross buns are the "cakes for the Queen of Heaven". Eggs, also are a fertility symbol and part of her worship. She was one of the most popular pagan deities, so the Early Church had little option but to try incorporate her worship with the ressurection of Jesus. To some extent, the worship of Mary has taken the place of Isis, Astoreth, whatever - some of these "Black Madonnas" are pagan statues of the mother goddess with her child.

Answer 5

We celebrate Easter to remember and rejoice over the Death and subsequent Resurrection of Jesus Christ, our savior.

Therefore Easter is not simply one feast among others, but the "Feast of feasts," the "Solemnity of solemnities.,"

St. Athanasius calls Easter "the Great Sunday" and the Eastern Churches call Holy Week "the Great Week."

The mystery of the Resurrection, in which Christ crushed death, permeates with its powerful energy our old time, until all is subjected to him.

With love in Christ.

Answer 6

Easter is the most important day of the "Holy Week" because it is the day when Jesus has risen and triumphed over death. We celebrate it because it reassures us of God's promise of salvation and eternal life if we believe and have faith.

Its also known as "The Second Christmas", when Jesus was reborn!

Answer 7

yep I can never remember properly Good Friday is when they put jesus and his disciples on the crosses. Then easter sunday is when he came back to life hence the stupid symbols of eggs meaning life from. i apologise if i am not accurate. Christmas is when he was born to virgin mary. Personally they are both important days in the christian calendar. I don't think easter is the MOST important day without jesus birthday (Which isn't december 25th you wouldn't get easter.

Answer 8

Easter is the most important season of the church, lasting from Easter Sunday (The day Jesus rose from the dead) to Pentecost Sunday (the birthday of the Catholic Church). It is supposed to be a season of celebration.

Answer 9

1. to pay our respects to Easter, goddess of fertility (hence all of the eggs and bunnies), so that we will have a bountiful spring. Christains who deny this--there is no Biblical origin of the word Easter. It has pagan roots. Check for yourselves. But don't ask questions unless you're prepared to accept the answer.

2. to make it easier for Christianity to spread across Europe and convert the pagan tribes by telling them that their grand celebration for Easter is also about Jesus so, heck, why not join the flock?

Albeit for a different pagan god (Mithra, most likely), it's also why we celebrate Christmas so close to the winter solstice.

Answer 10

Yes I do. Early christians took the holiday from pagans that held the spring equinox as a fertility celebration. And made it ther own. Did you know that your "orthodox" easter is always held on the Sunday after the first full moon of that month? Sounds pagan to me.

Answer 11

Eostre was a pagan fertility goddess, basically Easter is a festival or new birth and coincides with a Christian date so the two became overlaid. The majority of the secular celebrations are pagan in origen, such as the eggs, bunny and cakes