"Easter is a pagan holiday. Its timing is based on the full moon and the spring equinox, and it’s named after the goddess Ishtar."
No matter how widespread this claim has become, it has no basis in history or reality. (THREAD) (1/10)
No matter how widespread this claim has become, it has no basis in history or reality. (THREAD) (1/10)
The word Easter is of English origin. Ishtar was worshipped in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq), not England, which is thousands of miles away. Despite sounding similar, the two words are unrelated. (2/)
This theory was based on an incorrect conclusion by St. Bede the Venerable about the etymological origins of the English month that coincides with spring and the celebration of Easter, Eosturmonath. (3/)
But, as Anthony McRoy, fellow of the British Society for Middle East Studies, notes, there is no historical basis for this derivation (tinyurl.com/4mzhbyt3). Bede himself said his conclusion was based on his interpretation, not a generally held position or proven fact. (4/)
Regardless, this applies only to the origin of the English word, not the origin of the feast. Its origin is revealed by its name in other languages. In Italian, it’s Pasqua; in Spanish, Pascha; in Portugese, Páscoa; in French, Pâques; in Danish, Paaske; in Dutch, Pasen; etc. (5/)
All of these derive from the Latin "Pascha" or Greek "Paskha" (πάσχα), both of which are words for the Jewish feast of Passover (Hebrew, "Pesakh"). (6/)
The event Easter celebrates is the resurrection of Jesus, and it is celebrated in conjunction with Passover because Jesus was crucified at Passover and rose the following Sunday (John 19:14-18, 20:1-20). (7/)
The reason Easter’s timing is based on the full moon after the spring equinox is because that was the timing of Passover on the Jewish calendar. The Law of Moses requires Passover to be celebrated on the fourteenth of the month of Nisan (Lev. 23:5). (8/)
This is a spring month that contains the equinox, and because the Jewish months begin on the new moon, the fourteenth fell on the full moon. The timing of the feast thus is Jewish, not pagan. (9/)
What is ultimately important is what Easter signifies today—the resurrection of Jesus—not where it came from. Christ is risen, alleluia! (10/10)
Postscript: If you want to send a single link to someone to address this myth, send them this one: catholic.com/magazine/onlin…
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