“Faith Facts” is a series of short write-ups (approximately 350 words) that can be used in church bulletins or as brief explainers during Christian worship. This write-up is largely adapted from a longer article by Philip Brown, “Is ‘Easter’ Really Pagan?“
Download: Bulletin insert (5.5″x8.5″).
Faith Facts
“Easter” is not pagan and has no connection to a pagan goddess.
It’s sometimes claimed that “Easter” is the celebration of a pagan goddess—either Eostur (an Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring) or Ishtar (a Mesopotamian goddess of fertility).
The connection to Eostur (or Ēostre) comes from a book by Venerable Bede in the 8th century. Bede claimed that the Christian celebration was called “Easter” because it fell during the month called “Eostur-monath,” and that this month was originally named after a goddess Eostur. However, there is no other evidence of such a goddess ever being worshiped! Even if there was, it’s as irrelevant as the fact that our English word “Sunday” derives from the Roman worship of the sun. Furthermore, Christians never celebrated the resurrection in Eostur-monath because of Eostur, but because that is when Christ our Passover rose from the dead (likely April 5, AD 33). The connection to Ishtar is even weaker. It’s a myth, based entirely on the fact that the words sound similar.
The Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the definitive source for in-depth word histories, says that the most likely origin for the word “Easter” is actually its relation to the Old Saxon, Dutch, and German words for ‘east’ (ostar). The OED notes that the Old Saxon word for “paschal lamb” (Passover lamb) was ostarfrisking. If any etymological connection should be highlighted, it’s this one. Easter is the Christian Passover, called “Pascha” in the Eastern Church.
However, etymology is of little value for determining the meaning of a word. Words change their meanings over time. Any pagan associations with “Easter” have long been lost.
Conservative Christians need to break the bad habit of making mountains out of molehills. It makes us look silly, ignorant, and superstitious. Easter can be celebrated without fear for what it is: the Feast of the Resurrection of Our Lord. Christ is risen!
