THE MEANING OF EASTER

We begin with the meaning of the word Easter and its earliest usage in different ancient nations. Note that all accounts show a pagan origin clearly proving the source of this festival.

EASTER-MEANING

EASTER (Grk. pascha, from Heb. pesah). The Passover (which see), and so translated in every passage except in the KJV: "intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people" (Acts 12:4). In the earlier English versions Easter had been frequently used as the translation of pascha. At the last revision Passover

was substituted in all passages but this. See Passover. The word Easter is of Saxon origin, Eastra, the goddess of spring, in whose honor sacrifices were offered about Passover time each year. By the eighth century Anglo-Saxons had adopted the name to designate the celebration of Christ's resurrection.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: N.M.Denis-Boulet, Christian Calendar (1960).

(From The New Unger's Bible Dictionary. Originally published by Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois. Copyright (c) 1988.)

EASTER—Easter was originally a pagan festival honoring Eostre, a Teutonic (Germanic) goddess of light and spring. At the time of the vernal equinox (the day in the spring when the sun crosses the equator and day and night

are of equal length), sacrifices were offered in her honor. As early as the eighth century, the name was used to designate the annual Christian celebration of the resurrection of Christ.

(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright (c) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

“East •er, e'ster, n. [0.E. eastre, pl. eastron] (O.H.G. ostarun, G. Ostern, pl.), from the name (Northumbrian Eostre) of a Teutonic goddess of spring, orig. of dawn; akin to E.east.]” The Lexicon Webster Dictionary Vol. 1, p. 311.

“Even the word “EASTER” is of pagan origin. It is Chaldean and Means “Astarte;” this is one of the titles of BELTIS, the queen of heaven at Nineveh.” W. J. Sutton, The Antichrist 666, p.45.

EASTER’S PAGAN ORIGINS

Easter was a Pagan festival at the time of the vernal equinox in which Tammuz and Astarte were worshiped. I Quote:

“The Vernal Equinox or the New Year Festival was the most celebrated festival of the pagan year, for it was the time of the resurrection of the dead god Tammuz, who was "THE LORD OF DEATH AND REBIRTH." Centuries before the birth of Jesus, pagans in Babylon, Egypt, Persia, and Greece, all had their version of the RESURRECTION before our Lord's death and resurrection. 

This New Year Festival also known as HOLY WEEK, was started by 40 days of weeping and fasting. [The 40 day fast is known as lent, which means “spring” from the Saxon word “lenden”. Lent was imported by the Roman Catholic church from the worshippers of Tammuz, the spring god.] This 40 days of fasting and weeping was to bring back Tammuz from the grave. It was very necessary because the great Vegetation God, Tammuz, had control over the seasons, and it was he that brought the spring (the regeneration of life). Because Tammuz was killed and suffered much pain, the men would identify with their god by self flagellation. This was usually done with knives. While the men would cut themselves to show their sincerity, the women would weep for their god's return. They believed because Tammuz died in the fall, vegetation died also, and if he was resurrected, this too would cause the regeneration of plant life in the spring.” William J. Sutton, The Antichrist 666, pp. 43,44.