Grace Thompson
The word Easter is derived from the word Eoster, the name of the Teutonic goddess of the rising light of day and spring, and the annual sacrifices associated with her. The Venerable Bede, a seventh-century Anglo-Saxon historian, writes that the word Easter comes from the goddess Eostre, an ancient goddess of fertility and the goddess of the dawn who originated in what is now Scandinavia. The word is also said to have come from the Latin phrase hebdomada alba, meaning white week, referring to the white garments worn by those newly baptised. In Romance languages, the word for the Feast of the Resurrection is tied directly to Passover, with the Latin word Pascha being the Aramaic form of the Hebrew word Pesach, meaning Passover.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Etymology | The origin of the word "Easter" is unclear. It may be linked to the name of a pagan goddess or pagan ceremonies. |
| Hebrew-Greek-Latin root | "Pesach" (Hebrew), "Pascha" (Greek), "Pascha" (Latin). |
| Hebrew Bible | Moses tells Israelites to slaughter a Passover lamb and paint its blood on their door lintels. |
| First Passover | The Lord strikes down the firstborn of Egyptian families, passing over the houses of the Israelites. |
| Paul's Connection | Paul refers to Jesus as the "paschal lamb" in 1 Corinthians 5:7. |
| Last Supper | Jesus celebrates the Last Supper with his disciples during Passover. |
| Bede | The word "Easter" may come from "Eôstre," a Teutonic goddess of the rising light of day and spring. |
| Old English | "Easter" may come from the Old English word "Ēastre," referring to springtime or the dawn. |
| Old German | The word became "esostarum" in Old German and eventually "Easter." |
| Latin | "Sabbato Sancto de Vigilia Paschali" (Easter Vigil); "Cum Pascha nostrum immolatus est Christus" (First Preface of Easter). |
| Romance Languages | "Pâques" (French), "Pascua" (Spanish), "Pascha" (Latin), all derived from "Pesach." |
| Non-Romance Languages | "Pask" (Scotch), "Paschen" (Dutch), "Pask" (Swedish), "Paisken" (German dialect). |
| Babylonian Deity | Some neopagans connect "Eostre" to the Babylonian deity "Ishtar." |
| Oriental Churches | The custom of bringing eggs to the table on Easter Day is found in the Latin and Oriental Churches. |
| Dating | Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday following the new full moon after the vernal or Spring equinox (March 21). |
| Range of Dates | Easter falls between March 22 and April 25. |
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What You'll Learn
- The word Easter may derive from the Teutonic goddess Eostre/Eôstre/Eostar
- The Venerable Bede writes that Eostre was a goddess of fertility and the dawn
- The word may also come from the Latin phrase hebdomada alba, meaning white week
- The Greek term for Easter, pascha, comes from the Hebrew word pesach, meaning passover
- Easter is the principal feast of the ecclesiastical year
The word Easter may derive from the Teutonic goddess Eostre/Eôstre/Eostar
The origins of the word "Easter" are unclear, and nobody really knows where it comes from. However, one theory suggests that it may be derived from the Teutonic goddess Eostre/Eôstre/Eostar, a deity of the rising light of day and spring. This theory is attributed to Bede, a historian of the Middle Ages, who claimed that the word "Easter" originated in English around the eighth century AD and derived from the word "Eoster", the name of the aforementioned goddess.
According to Bede, the word "Eostar", the Old German plural for "dawn", served as the basis for the German "Ostern" and the English "Easter". The Venerable Bede, a seventh-century Anglo-Saxon historian, writes that the goddess Eostre originated in what is now Scandinavia. Over time, early Christians started referring to the Feast of the Resurrection by the name of the month in which it was celebrated—Eosturmonath (April).
The word "Eostre" likely comes from the Old English word "Ēastre", which was a reference to springtime or the dawn. This theory suggests that the Christian celebration of the resurrection of Jesus, called "Easter" by English-speaking Christians, may have been influenced by pagan goddess or pagan ceremonies. However, it is important to note that the feast described by the word "Easter" is Christian without question.
While the etymology of the word "Easter" may be linked to pagan origins, the meaning and significance of the word for Christians are purely theological. Easter is the most important liturgical time for Catholics, celebrating Jesus's victory over sin, death, and salvation for mankind. It is a time when Catholics commemorate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead and celebrate it as the Lord's resurrection, culminating in his Ascension to the Father and the sending of the Holy Spirit upon the Church.
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The Venerable Bede writes that Eostre was a goddess of fertility and the dawn
The origin of the word "Easter" is a little unclear, and nobody really knows where it came from. However, according to the Venerable Bede, a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon historian and monk, the word Easter comes from the goddess Eostre, an ancient goddess of fertility and the dawn who originated in what is now Scandinavia.
In his work "De temporum ratione" (The Reckoning of Time), Bede mentions Eostre as the name of a month corresponding to April and suggests that the festival of Easter may have been named after this goddess. The Anglo-Saxon month was called Eosturmonath, while the German counterpart was ostermonat, derived from the Old High German Ostera or "Easter."
Bede writes that Eostre was a Teutonic goddess of the rising light of day and spring. Her name is etymologically linked to words related to dawn and the east, where the sun rises. She is believed to be the namesake for the Christian holiday of Easter, as early Christians started referring to the Feast of the Resurrection by the name of the month in which it was celebrated—Eosturmonath (what we now call April).
While Bede provides the only written mention of Eostre, some scholars have linked customs and imagery involving hares to the goddess. Eostre has also been associated with the Norse goddess Freyja, though there is no evidence that Freyja was linked to hares.
In summary, the Venerable Bede writes that Eostre was a Teutonic goddess of fertility, spring, and the dawn, and that the Christian holiday of Easter may have been named after her. While there is limited historical information about Eostre, her name lives on in the celebration of Easter, a festival that has been adapted by different religions and cultures over time.
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The word may also come from the Latin phrase hebdomada alba, meaning white week
The origin of the word "Easter" is a little unclear. While nobody really knows where the word comes from, some historians suggest that it originated from the Latin phrase "hebdomada alba", which means "white week". This phrase was used to describe the white garments that new Christians wore when they were baptised during Holy Week.
Over time, the phrase evolved. In Old German, the phrase "hebdomada alba" became "esostarum" and, eventually, "Easter".
The Venerable Bede, a seventh-century Anglo-Saxon historian, offers another explanation for the origin of the word "Easter". According to Bede, the word comes from the goddess Eostre, an ancient goddess of fertility and the dawn, who originated in what is now Scandinavia.
Over time, early Christians started referring to the Feast of the Resurrection by the name of the month in which it was celebrated—Eosturmonath (April). This theory ties in with other Easter customs, such as Easter eggs and the Easter Bunny, which are also considered ancient symbols of fertility and are tied to the worship of Eostre.
In many Romance languages, the word for the Feast of the Resurrection is tied directly to Passover. For example, Pâques (French), Pascua (Spanish), and Pascha (Latin) all come directly from Pesach, the Hebrew word for Passover.
In some parts of the world, the date of Easter is still calculated according to the Julian or Gregorian calendar, resulting in different dates for Western and Eastern churches. However, there have been recent efforts to establish a common, universal date for the celebration of Easter across different Christian denominations.
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The Greek term for Easter, pascha, comes from the Hebrew word pesach, meaning passover
The word "Easter" is used to refer to the Christian festival commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, the origin of the word "Easter" is unclear. According to the Anglo-Saxon historian Bede, the word is derived from "Eostre", a Teutonic goddess of spring and the dawn.
The Greek term for Easter is "Pascha", which is derived from the Hebrew word "Pesach", meaning Passover. The Hebrew Bible, or the Old Testament, tells the story of the first Passover. Moses instructs the Israelites to slaughter a lamb and mark their doors with its blood. The Lord then strikes down the firstborn of every Egyptian family, passing over the houses of the Israelites. This story is found in Exodus 12.
The connection between Easter and Passover is further strengthened by the timing of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. According to the New Testament, Jesus was arrested and crucified before the Passover to avoid riots when many pilgrims would be in Jerusalem. Additionally, Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with his disciples during the Passover feast. Thus, the early Christians first celebrated the resurrection of Christ during the Passover feast, and the Greek word "Pascha" was used to refer to both Easter and Passover.
While the word "Easter" is commonly used in English-speaking countries, some Christians, particularly in Orthodox circles, prefer to use the word "Pascha" to emphasise the connection with Passover and avoid the pagan origins of the word "Easter".
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Easter is the principal feast of the ecclesiastical year
The etymology of the word "Easter" is unclear, with several theories being proposed. Some historians suggest that the word is derived from the Latin phrase "hebdomada alba", meaning "white week", referring to the white garments worn by new Christians during Holy Week. Over time, this phrase was mistranslated to refer to "the shining light of day" or "the shining dawn", leading to the Old German word "esostarum", which eventually became "Easter".
Another theory, proposed by the 7th-century Anglo-Saxon historian Bede, suggests that the word originates from the name of the ancient goddess Eostre (also known as Eostar or Eostre), who was a deity of fertility, the dawn, and the rising light of day. The celebration of Easter as the Feast of the Resurrection may have adopted the name of the month in which it was celebrated, Eosturmonath (April).
Regardless of the origin of the word, Easter is the principal feast of the ecclesiastical year for Catholics. Also called Pascha (Greek: πάσχα, páskha), it commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, as described in the New Testament, three days after his burial following his crucifixion. This festival is observed in various ways by Western Christians, including Roman Catholics, Lutherans, and Anglicans. The traditional liturgical observation of Easter begins on Holy Saturday with the Easter Vigil, involving ancient rituals and readings from the Old and New Testaments. Services continue on Easter Sunday and, in some countries, on Easter Monday.
The octave of Easter, or the eight days following Easter Sunday, is a time of prolonged joy. During each Mass within this period, the Alleluia is sung at the conclusion. The season of Easter is considered the most important liturgical time for Catholics, celebrating Jesus' victory over sin and death, and his salvation of mankind. Pope Leo I emphasised the significance of Easter, stating that Christmas is observed only in preparation for Easter.
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Frequently asked questions
The origin of the word "Easter" is unclear. Some historians suggest that it comes from the phrase "hebdomada alba", which is Latin for "white week". This refers to the white garments new Christians wore when baptised during Holy Week.
The Venerable Bede, a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon historian, writes that the word Easter comes from Eostre, a Teutonic goddess of fertility, the dawn and spring.
The Easter Vigil is an ancient liturgy involving symbols of light, candles and water, with readings from the Old and New Testaments. It is considered the Mother of All Vigils.
The Paschal greeting is "Christ is risen!". The response is: "He is risen indeed."
Easter Sunday is the celebration of Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead. It is the greatest of all Sundays.
