Are the Symbols and Customs of Easter of Pagan Origin?

[Lady Vizsla]

by Roger Patterson

If you were to ask the typical American to identify the symbols used to celebrate Easter, the likely responses would include bunnies, eggs, plastic grass, chicks, ham . . . and don’t forget candy!

Some responses might include lambs, crosses, palm branches, candles, and flowers, but the focus in American culture is typically on that magical bunny that lays eggs in plastic grass in the wee hours of the morning.

If Easter is supposed to be a celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus, how did all these trappings get added to the fasting and feasting that marked the earliest celebrations within the church? The answers are complex and involve regional influences. I do not intend to examine every tradition but to focus on a few of the more popular symbols and examine them from a biblical perspective. Ultimately, each person must consider these practices in light of Scripture and his own convictions about worshipping the Savior regarding the Resurrection.

There is no question that a majority of these practices have their origins in pagan customs. These customs were assimilated into Christian practices throughout the early centuries of the church. Alexander Hislop and Ralph Woodrow1 chronicled the insertion of these practices into the life of the church, especially appearing in the modern rituals of the Roman Catholic and other churches. The celebrations linked to the Catholic Church calendar are admittedly tied to pagan celebrations. Though there are problems with the reasoning in the writings of Hislop and Woodrow, many of their ideas regarding the symbols attached to Easter are confirmed, even by the Catholic Encyclopedia.

Under the discussion of Easter in the Catholic Encyclopedia, we find statements like the following:

The [use of Easter eggs] may have its origin in paganism, for a great many pagan customs, celebrating the return of spring, gravitated to Easter. The egg is the emblem of the germinating life of early spring. (emphasis added)

The rabbit is a pagan symbol and has always been an emblem of fertility. The Easter fire . . . is a custom of pagan origin in vogue all over Europe, signifying the victory of spring over winter. . . . The Church adopted the observance into the Easter ceremonies, referring it to the fiery column in the desert and to the Resurrection of Christ.2

As the church spread throughout Asia, Africa, and Europe, it appears that the customs of various seasons and festivals were co-opted and incorporated into Christian practices. It is not easy to identify the exact date of the origin of the Roman Catholic Church, so to say that all of these practices are simply attached to the Roman Church may be an overstatement. As a result of the Reformation, some of these practices were separated from the celebration, but many remain in various cultures. Let’s examine some of the more popular ideas in the West.

Lent is the period of 40 days leading up to the Easter feast. The exact origin of this tradition is clouded by history, but there are two likely origins. Hislop proposed that this period of 40 days comes from the fasting that followed the Babylonian worship of Tammuz, who was honored by a period of weeping.3 Hislop cited current examples of this practice, but there is still no clear connection through time to the practice in the Christian community. Satan acts as a counterfeiter—he is the father of lies (John 8:44). Undoubtedly, he takes biblical ideas and tries to twist them to pervert the true worship of God. Some writings do seem to support that the 40 day period was introduced in the fifth century,4 but an earlier statement counters this idea. Irenaeus, writing of Polycarp visiting the Bishop of Rome around AD 150, stated:

For the controversy is not merely as regards the day, but also as regards the form itself of the fast. For some consider themselves bound to fast one day, others two days, others still more, while others [do so during] forty: the diurnal and the nocturnal hours they measure out together as their [fasting] day. And this variety among the observers [of the fasts] had not its origin in our time, but long before in that of our predecessors, some of whom probably, being not very accurate in their observance of it, handed down to posterity the custom as it had, through simplicity or private fancy, been [introduced among them]. And yet nevertheless all these lived in peace one with another, and we also keep peace together.5 (emphasis added)

It is clear from this record that the period of the fast varied widely from a few days, apparently in honor of the period from the Cross to the Resurrection, to 40 days, apparently in reference to the fasting and temptation of Christ in the wilderness following His baptism (Luke 4:1–13). Despite the trappings that have been added since, there is nothing unchristian about setting aside a period of devotion to honor Christ. The danger comes when legalistic requirements with no connection to the gospel or the Bible are added.

The hare has been celebrated as a symbol of fertility in many cultures throughout recorded history. Throughout Western celebrations, the hare or rabbit has been attached to the Resurrection of the Savior of the world. Exactly how this connection has come to be varies within cultures, but all are from outside the Bible.

A problematic aspect of the hare in our modern culture comes from the promise of treats to boys and girls who have been good. Not too unlike Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny magically and mysteriously appears in the middle of the night to hide a basket filled with candy for the child. Sadly, rather than waking to a morning focused on celebrating Christ’s victory over death and our assurance of faith in Him (1 Corinthians 15:13–17), the focus is on selfishly seeking a hidden basket of sweets. I ask you to question whether this is a wise practice for your family and yet to reserve judging those who choose to participate in such activities (Romans 14). Every Christian would do well to consider whether this type of activity leads to exalting Christ as Lord and Savior and to make that goal the measure of their decision whether to participate in egg hunts and the like.

Like the hare, eggs have also been a symbol of fertility cults and pagan rituals around the world. The coloring of eggs is common to many of these rituals. Many Christians across the globe have incorporated the use of eggs into their celebrations but with no specific biblical command to do so. While eggs have been symbols of the rebirth of the earth each spring in paganism, Christians have viewed the egg as a symbol of resurrection. From the apparently dead egg springs forth new life in the form of a chick. This raises an interesting question: If an object or action is used in pagan worship, can it ever be used to worship God? Answering this question is at the heart of the discussion over how to celebrate the Resurrection.

Scripture does not answer this question directly, so we must apply principles from the breadth of Scripture. In order to examine this question, we must set aside our preconceived notions about the alleged connections to pagan worship we have been handed and examine the claims individually as well as the motives of those participating in the “questionable” practices.

God is the Creator of everything, so any object from nature the pagans may use in their worship is actually a corruption of what God has created. Christians might use an egg to communicate the idea of Christ’s Resurrection without worshipping the egg, expecting increased fertility, or associating it with a pagan god. In fact, we might take the opportunity to explain how Satan has perverted God’s truth and His creation to deceive people through such practices.

Many people use Deuteronomy 12:1–32 to suggest that incorporating various cultural practices into worshipping God is forbidden. It is clear that in some instances the springtime worship rituals were simply adopted by Christians. However, Christians who use eggs in their celebrations today do not do so to honor a fertility goddess or with the impression they are worshipping God through the egg. Those who participate in sunrise services are doing so because that is the approximate time Christ rose from the dead, not because they are unknowingly worshipping the sun.

The Deuteronomy passage must be considered in its context. The commands of chapter 12 are for the conquest of Canaan. In verses 1–4, the Israelites are also called to destroy every altar and idol they encounter. Verses 29–32 are a reiteration of this command. We do not see such a command in the New Testament as the gospel was spreading around the globe. Paul did not topple the statues he found in Athens—he used them as an opportunity to teach about the real God who had created the earth and had risen from the dead.

In general, Christians have used formerly pagan symbols to represent the new life we have in Christ. Celebrating His Resurrection is the perfect time to be reminded of the new life each believer has in Christ. The grass and flowers that spring forth as the weather warms are a splendid analogy for the rebirth of the Christian. We should be constantly reminded of God’s active role in sustaining the earth He has given us to live on. Springtime offers a time to remember that it is God who causes the grass to grow (Psalm 147: cool , just as He causes new birth for those who turn to the resurrected Lord Jesus in repentance and faith (1 Peter 1:3–5). We should acknowledge this wonderful truth every day, not just on Easter, as we praise God for His goodness and mercy.

As you consider how best to acknowledge the Resurrection, take time to make sure your practices help you bring honor and glory to Christ. Christians should take care to be separate from the influences of worldliness and to live as a people called out of the world by God. Certainly, some will say Scripture does not command the celebration, and so it should be avoided. Others will say there are no commands against it and no shame in participating in cultural activities that are not sinful (1 Corinthians 8; Romans 14). Others will insist that we keep only the feasts given to the Israelites and that to do anything else is a perverted form of worship.

Remember that those brothers and sisters with whom you disagree have also been bought with Christ’s blood and have His Spirit living in them. Share your understanding of Scripture with love, knowing that it is the role of the Holy Spirit to bring conviction of sin. If your convictions lead you to avoid the common customs, do so, and do not violate your conscience on these matters. Regardless, make sure Christ is the focus of your worship not only during the celebration of the Resurrection, but every day of your life. Paul reminded his readers of the attitude believers should have toward each other.

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:1–6)  

[cristobela]

Four main areas I want to comment on:

1) In regards to Lent:

Quote:

It is clear from this record that the period of the fast varied widely from a few days, apparently in honor of the period from the Cross to the Resurrection, to 40 days, apparently in reference to the fasting and temptation of Christ in the wilderness following His baptism (Luke 4:1–13). Despite the trappings that have been added since, there is nothing unchristian about setting aside a period of devotion to honor Christ. The danger comes when legalistic requirements with no connection to the gospel or the Bible are added.

Examples: (a) putting ash on our foreheads or making our fasting obvious, contrary to Jesus' command (the exception for making the fast known: if it involves the safety of other believers and you're telling them to join to pray for protection together i.e. Esther 4:16, Ezra 8:21-23). (b) participating in things like Fat Tuesday, a hedonistic pre-cursor to one's fast.

• Matthew 6:16-18 (NIV)
  
  16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
  
  
• 1 Peter 4:3 (NIV)
  
  3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.

2) About the logic used concerning “egg hunts”, the ambivalence noted in the article, and in the quotation below, is due to unawareness of what Paul wrote elsewhere:

Quote:

 I ask you to question whether this is a wise practice for your family and yet to reserve judging those who choose to participate in such activities (Romans 14). Every Christian would do well to consider whether this type of activity leads to exalting Christ as Lord and Savior and to make that goal the measure of their decision whether to participate in egg hunts and the like. 

Paul actually did judge the days, observances, and religious practices people wanted to keep when they gave honor to pagan beliefs, or could be misconstrued as doing so:

• Galatians 4:8-11 (NIV)
  
  8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces[a]? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
  
  Footnotes:
  
  a. Galatians 4:9 Or principles
  
  
• 1 Corinthians 10:19-21 (NIV)
  
  19 Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.
  
  
• 1 Corinthians 8:10 (NIV)
  
  10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols?

So, regardless of how we view things—even if we don't view the idol as being anything—we could be validating false practices and false beliefs in the minds of others (and honoring demons on top of that). You don't have to be worshiping the pagan idol yourself, in your mind or heart, but the appearance of what you're doing communicates that you do honor the pagan belief and practice.

So this:

Quote:

Christians who use eggs in their celebrations today do not do so to honor a fertility goddess or with the impression they are worshipping God through the egg.

...is unsound reasoning. Paul says that we should consider what we're communicating in the mind of another (that would apply, not just to fellow believer, but pagan / lost person as well).

3) The concept of holiness is not being grasped by this article. To be holy (set-apart) is for the purpose of showing that we're not reflecting, even in appearance, the false beliefs and worldly ways of pagan religions.

Thus, verses like:

• Leviticus 20:26 (NIV)
  
  26 You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.

Considering that Paul is not withholding judgment for the days and practices the Galatians wanted to observe, because they belonged to idols / things that are not god, then, of the days Paul said to be convinced about in our own minds (in Romans 14), that does not include pagan holidays or practices, which give honor to idolatrous beliefs, even by mere appearance. We cannot give the appearance that we honor them because we will lead others to believe that pagan practices are valid. When there are direct ties to pagan / idolatrous belief in the practices from our culture, we leave the self-imposed tradition behind. Hence, when the Galatians went back to those observances from their culture that honored idols, Paul felt like he had wasted his efforts on them. That's a judgment of disapproval. Paul is not “reserving judgment”.

Peter documents that people were unstably handling Paul's epistles to teach lawlessness.

• 2 Peter 3:15-17 (NIV)
  
  15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
  
  17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.

So, if God commanded that we cannot take the ways of the nations and dedicate it to Him—even if we make Him the reason, then we cannot use Paul's epistles to teach otherwise.


4) About Deut 12:

Quote:

The Deuteronomy passage must be considered in its context. The commands of chapter 12 are for the conquest of Canaan. In verses 1–4, the Israelites are also called to destroy every altar and idol they encounter. Verses 29–32 are a reiteration of this command. We do not see such a command in the New Testament as the gospel was spreading around the globe. Paul did not topple the statues he found in Athens—he used them as an opportunity to teach about the real God who had created the earth and had risen from the dead. 

Unfortunately, the author of this article refuses to see (or quite possibly is not capable of seeing) the overall spiritual concept demonstrated by Deut 12:30-31 — and that is, “what belongs to pagan beliefs, do not incorporate into your life, even in My Name because it profanes My Name, makes me look like the common beliefs the nations hold (the opposite of guarding His Holy Name, that He is set-apart, unlike the things of this world); if not outright detrimental, then the practices of the pagans are useless and lies.

Canaan-specific commands of destroying idols is not just limited to Canaan: in whatever territory is yours (your household, your mind, your profile page, your car, your online presence) eliminate all paganism / superstition / myth from the areas you have ownership of (which is what the Israelites were doing: inheriting the land of Canaan; it would now be theirs, so they were to eliminate all traces of false religion, not leave remnants of demon worship or traces of idol worship in their life).

• Deuteronomy 12:30-31 (NIV)
  
  30 and after they have been destroyed before you, be careful not to be ensnared by inquiring about their gods, saying, “How do these nations serve their gods? We will do the same.” 31 You must not worship the Lord your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the Lord hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.

Adopting worldly beliefs and ways of thinking is not limited to Canaan-specific commands either.

• Jeremiah 10:2 (NIV)
  
  2 This is what the Lord says:
  “Do not learn the ways of the nations
      or be terrified by signs in the heavens,
      though the nations are terrified by them.
  
  
• Romans 12:2 (NIV)
  
  2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
  

There is strong biblical reason to discard these "rabbits-bringing-eggs", "egg-hunting" traditions. It tarnishes God's holiness. The only reason people protest, and try their hardest to Christianize / syncretize into our religion what was once pagan and still remains pagan, is because they have childhood affections for them, warm fuzzy feelings of happy moments with family. Something looks good, smells good, feels good, sounds good, tastes good. But affections for the things of this world is what keeps us from obeying the commands in the Bible.

• 1 John 2:15-16 (NIV)
  
  15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father[a] is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.
  
  Footnotes:
  
  a. 1 John 2:15 Or world, the Father’s love

It is unstable to, on the one hand, acknowledge that “yes, the ties to pagan religion are still present in the very celebration”, but then tell people, “but it's up to you to celebrate it anyway”. That is the total opposite of the Old Testament and New Testament positions on such idolatrous days and practices. We're suppose to make a distinction between the holy and the profane. We don't participate in the egg hunt to teach people the gospel, nor is it acceptable to syncretize what is pagan with the Holy God of Israel. How Christians came up with the egg symbolism is irrelevant to how the pagans view the egg and egg-hunting. It matters what they think. Why risk validating their pagan practice (“see, the Christians copied us; we had the egg-hunting tradition in our nature worship rituals all this time prior to Jesus Christ, while it's absent from the Bible; even in their own Bible there is no egg symbolism tied to Christ, so by definition they stole it from us; ergo, our religion is oldest thus the most valid"). That does not help the gospel. And it's not something we can be convinced about in our own mind. This is the kind of thing Paul wrote not to associate with.