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8 24

Happy Easter!

I would say that Easter is one of the most misunderstood holidays, but in reality, most Christian holidays (including Groundhog’s Day) are based on pagan holiday and, by default, are misunderstood.

“Whoa, Gwen,” you say, “I understand that Christmas and Halloween are based on heathen practices but Easter? The most holy day of Christianity?”

And Gwen says, “Yup.”

First, consider the word “Easter.” It is based on a Celtic/Germanic goddess of the dawn/spring, Ostara or Eostre. Several years ago, fundie Christians claimed the name descended from “Ishtar,” the Babylonian goddess of fertility. This only showed the ignorance of those claimants. While the names sound alike, consider the likelihood that a Babylonian name would survive thousands of years to be chosen as a title for a pagan holiday in Europe. There is no direct lineage of practices and any deities/myths are archetypal in nature. The name also far predates Wicca (which dates from the mid 20th century) but Ostara is one of the sabbats in the Wheel of the Year.

Then, there are the pagan symbols associated with the day. Bunnies and eggs are symbols of fertility, which, in turn, symbolize birth. Note that this reference to “birth” is actual physical birth, not necessarily resurrection. However, while on the topic of resurrection, Jesus joins other deities who are reborn/resurrected in spring. Most notably, Persephone ascends from Hades and lives above ground until autumn dictates her return. When Inanna died and was dead for three days (a precursor to the time Jesus spent in the tomb), all fertility stopped; her return to the upper world meant “things” could return to normal. The seasons differ in Mesopotamia than they do in Europe, but the emphasis is on growing seasons. Spring officially began with the vernal equinox, but most signs that spring is here occur around this time.

In the modern world, Jesus is the most famous dying/resurrecting deity, but he is based on thousands of years of history preceding him.

Celebrate what you like--or do not celebrate at all--but this is the celebration of the reaffirmation of life . . . And life goes on. Yup, we will die someday, and some believe that they will be resurrected in an afterlife. For those who do not hold this belief, life goes on because the human race goes on.

That is, of course, until the earth is burnt to a cinder by the red giant of the sun. By then, humans will be extinct--don't worry, we have a few more centuries! In the meantime, sit in the sun and acknowledge that without it, we would not be alive. Eat, drink, be merry, and begin to prepare for the coming winter.

(I like to think of the Cosmic or Universal Egg that exists in many creation myths as a giant Easter egg. And on that image . . . Enjoy!)

Gwendolyn2018 9 Apr 17
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8 comments

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1

To annoy my Christian Facebook friends I posted a drawing of the goddess Eostre and a "Happy Eostre to all my Pagan friends". This was to counter the "he is risen" and "he is risen indeed" nonsense. Some of them took in good part and one replied with a "And a happy Easter back at you".
I would hazard a guess that half of the practicing Christians in the world do not know the derivation of the word "easter"

0

Thank you for the history lesson (really). However, (you do know, with me there's always a however). All signs strongly point to us not even lasting until the end of this century. I have two, maybe, postings (one is too difficult for most but I will share it with Gwen. [medium.com] Also, Noam Chomsky (seems he's still around) put out another prediction to the dame effect (which I also have).

@Gwendolyn2018 Unfortunately, the suffering tends to get around and we may not be immune. It's bad enough having to deal with the fanatics and wanna-be dictators out there but it could only be a start.Remember what happened in Cambodia to people like us!

@Gwendolyn2018 Maybe you should take them with you. Bet they'd love that (or not).

@Gwendolyn2018 Why the Himalayas? Seems a bit cold.

@Gwendolyn2018 Also, there's fewer and fewer places to escape to. Even here things are going downhill. The massive fire in Friday Harbor I posted seems to be a case of arson.

@Gwendolyn2018 Seems like I've seen these pictures before. As with your quilts you seem to have an impressive artistic bent. I also have a couple of gardens but there are a lot more plants, and weeds, and it's really difficult for one (me) to keep up with. How much land do you have? Also, what is that white stuff? lol Your climate is probably more extreme than here but ours is changing for the worse.

@Gwendolyn2018 I have considered a battery mower but the present one runs great and why spend $500-$800 to replace it (it would have to be a self-propelled as my property has lots of ups and downs). Do you pay your grandson? Maybe that would motivate him more.

Even though we are a lot further north than you our snow is also usually very light. This spring has been unusually cool and wet. I have to go on a camping/workparty to a lighthouse on another island tomorrow. It's supposed to rain and be in the 40's-low 50's so I'm not looking forward to the trip. I've put this fun video out before but don't know if you've seen it.

@Gwendolyn2018 Interesting, I also lived in California for a while outside of Sacramento. A travel group I belong, Servas, Int'l is based in Arcata which is a part of Humboldt county. There was a show on Netflix centered around Eureka. It was a sci-fi show.

@Gwendolyn2018 I know it was fictional. It was way too much sci-fictiony. We once drove through the area. It seemed really nice.

@Gwendolyn2018 So you meant the city depicted in the show, not the city Eureka, itself.

2

Hail Brian! He is the Messiah!!!

4

If you’re going to start a religion, steal what people like: holidays.

4

Whoa Gwen.
In spring Persephone rises and smiles,
indulgently on lovers, in her wild gardens.
A Book of Verses underneath the Bough,
A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread-and Gwen
Beside me singing in the Wilderness-
O, Wilderness were Paradise enow!

Apos. Edward Fitzgerald

0

Life does not go on b/c of humans and I'm not a big fan of life. Why would I celebrate it? I am persuaded, by science, that we have only decades, not a few centuries, but I don't worry b/c I don't celebrate life. Like Tao, I am unconcerned whether it exists or not. For lunch, today, I had a sausage/egg/cheese sammie. Consume as much nonsense as possible with a nice glass of whine.

@Gwendolyn2018 I've got a Dr's appointment.

2

Very good.

4

Well said. In a practical way many forget that this is the beginning of new birth and growth for the year. Some are cutting their grass today. I'm stubborn and will wait another week. Things will grow if Jesus did not see his shadow.

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