Pagan Holiday Not Linked to Easter's Origins

An article in Christianhistory.net debunks the notion that Easter was started in place of a pagan holiday, showing that an early Christian scholar's language error led to the mistaken notion.

The latest issue of the magazine online traces the mistake made by St. Bede in the first English book on Christian history. The story, written by a British historian, explains that the origin of the word Easter was derived from Anglo-Saxon for "opening month" (Estor monath) rather than a Germanic/Nordic goddess that is yet to have been found in writings or by other means. The "opening" refers to the opening of the buds of flowers.

In addition, another theory posits that English speaking Christians may have referred to it as the time in albis or "in white," the color traditionally seen in flowers at that time. Translated into German, it would have been "eostarum," which means "dawn."

The history of Christmas is another matter, but the celebration's timing does confirm the importance and the symbolism inherent in the commemoration of Christ's death and Resurrection at Easter.