Looking for the origional pagan origins of Easter worship?

Question

Okay, so I watched this documentary on this, and there was this supremely yukky story about the origin of easter and christmas worship. I am looking to do more research on the origional pagan rituals... what I remember from the show was 3 babies being conceived on one day, in commemoration of the goddess Easter being resurrected. Then one year later these babies were slaughtered (at 3 months old) and eggs were died red in their blood - the origion of the Christian 'egg' thing. The created a hair that laid eggs, hence that myth... I am looking for more info on this, can anyone reccomend any links?

Ta
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Oh and I was also interested in more information on the Temples and other points of worship for the pagan goddess Easter - a few sources i've found say that the temple 'priestesses' were modern-day prostitutes, and that their rites were almost entirely sexual based. Any further info on this?

Answer 1

You may find this helpful. They did a thorough job in my opinion.

http://www.history.com/minisites/easter/?page=history

As to the second part of your question I suggest reading The Sacred Prostitute by Nancy Qualls-Corbett. There is a HUGE difference between a sacred prostitute and a profane prostitute.

Answer 2

There are multiple rituals and celebrations for easter. Ever culture saw how that new life and celebrated the new season of growing.
Some of the origianl cultures were a little blood thirsty. We see that horror in that now, but to them it wasn't. I have enver heard of anyone sacrificing babies but I am also not versed in all cultures. If you want to actually understand it though, you have to shift into the world view at THAT time, not this one.
Yes the Sumerians dipped thier eggs in blood in honor if Isthar.
There is also Ostara, a goddess of the Celtic (I think) that Easter is named after. I'm not sure her rituals. I think the hare is her symbol? I have a head ache and can't remember.
Sex was considered part of some ritualistic practices of the ancient world. I repeat you can NOT look at it like a Christian. Sex is not viewed the same way in many religions and cultures around the world. No they aren't prostitutes. Like I said, you have to step out side the box.

Answer 3

Sites like ReligiousTolerance.org will tell you things like "the Teutonic dawn goddess of fertility [was] known variously as Ostare, Ostara, Ostern, Eostra, Eostre, Eostur, Eastra, Eastur, Austron and Ausos." 1 Her name was derived from the ancient word for spring . . . " but that's mostly speculation and modern bullcrap, as is the idea that she was associated with eggs, rabbits, or egg-laying rabbits. Sorry.

All we really have of the Saxon goddess Ostara is that her name means EAST, and that she is therefore *presumed* to be a goddess of the dawn/rising sun, and from thence, via more modern supposition, ALSO presumed to be associated with springtime, fertility, the Earth, blah blah woof woof and all that.

'Cept no one really KNOWS anymore, and the lore's been long lost, and everything you read, someone pulled right out of their (admittedly educated) keester.

The NAME "Easter" comes from Eostre, which is what Ostara came to be called about the time the ancient Saxons, by then in Merrie Auld Englande, started speaking Old English.

However, there's an interesting progression of cognates:

Aphrodite from ancient Cyprus
Ashtoreth from ancient Israel
Astarté from ancient Greece
Ishtar from Assyria
Ostara, a Saxon goddess.

Which suggests possible links back to the earliest Earth Goddess worship has been preserved in the folk customs surrounding spring (and with spring, Easter as well) in much the same way that Santa Claus can be traced back to Neandertal beargod worship. The most likely source of dissemination for these customs was the Roman Empire, and the Roman Catholic Church itself.

The "3 month old baby's blood" thing is total BS too. I'd sure like a title, source and references on that "documentary" you say you watched.

Answer 4

Named after the Godess Earth mother EOSTRE.


http://www.religioustolerance.org/easter1.htm

Answer 5

Google "oestre origins" and you will find a goldmine of information.

Answer 6

http://www.cgi.org/booklets/easter.cfm

Answer 7

Good question, I'll ask around.