Easter Egg symbolizes Christianity...
By stanley777
@stanley777 (9402)
Philippines
March 31, 2013 1:42am CST
The homily today of our parish priest is about the risen Lord. If I remember it right, he said that Mary Magdalene is the first to see that the great stone that covers the entrance of Jesus's tomb has been moved. She thought that someone had taken His body so she goes back where the disciples are and told them what she had seen.
Our priest says that the egg is likened to the great stone that covers Jesus's tomb. We can not put an egg to stand on a table, it would move sideways.
How about you my fellow mylotters, what's your understanding why Easter egg came to be called? I mean no offense to non Catholics in starting this discussion.
2 people like this
9 responses
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
31 Mar 13
Your priest is very ingenious in using this image and there is nothing wrong with it.
The real significance of eggs at Easter, however, is to symbolize new life. It is a very ancient, pre-Christian tradition and it does no harm to Christianity to keep the tradition because Easter is a time when we celebrate the rebirth of Christ. An egg is a round thing, something like a stone, and yet out of it comes new life, so it can also be seen as a symbol of the sealed tomb from which Jesus was reborn.
1 person likes this
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
31 Mar 13
I always wondered about the easter egg and the way you state what it symbolizes is really ingenious and makes perfect sense. Now when someone ask me what does the easter egg have to do with Easter I will have a answer for them. Amazing how we learn something new everyday if we read and listen to others. Thanks for the info and have a Blessed Easter.
@dark_joev (3034)
• United States
1 Apr 13
As many have already pointed out that Easter is actually a far older holiday than the Celebration of Christ resurrecting as Easter falls on the Lunar Calender one that is older than the current system of counting days.
This is spring time when most animals either get out of hibernation or start to mate(maybe both). The whole thing of Easter would be the celebration of the Spring Equinox.
Easter is just one of many of the Holidays that have a solid root in Pagan religions that pre-date the existence of The Torah or even the Bible. The another Holiday that is quite Pagan would be Yule or the celebration of the Winter Solstice.
@stanley777 (9402)
• Philippines
1 Apr 13
Yes I guess we all agreed, that rabbit and egg tradition is a pagan way of celebration during their days. Maybe, in honor of whatever or something they are worshiping in those days. And when Christianity came in, their leaders just continue the tradition so as not to be different from what they have been used to but now they associates it to The Resurrection of Christ.
@stanley777 (9402)
• Philippines
2 Apr 13
Oh yes, I think I have picked the wrong word for it. Pardon my quick thinking but I don't think the early Christians took the tradition as their own. I guess they just compared it to the Resurrection of Christ. I'm not knowledgeable about pagan religions and I'm so sorry if I have offended you or any members with this discussion.
@AidaLily (1450)
• United States
2 Apr 13
@stanley777: You didn't offend me. I am really not easily offended at all. Not too many people are familiar with pagan religions. People outside of them have peverted them to mean something strange and odd. I had one person tell me that I sacrifice animals in wicca but no, we don't do that at all. After all, the goddess appreciates all life and thus going around killing it for no good reason (like needing to eat) is frowned upon.
I couldn't tell you if they took it or not. I might be a tad bit young considering how long ago it was. I just know that the traditions are older than Christianity and where some of them came from.
For some it feels as though early Christians took it as their own. Would you believe that most people don't even realize that many Christian holidays come from older religions? They get upset if you mention it, but I am happy you were willing to listen more rather than get upset. Thank you for that.
@moneylots87 (521)
• Indonesia
31 Mar 13
I love to read about mythology, and from what i read, Easter came from the Spring Equinox Festival to honor Oestre or Eastre (Ostara in Germanic) goddess, Saxon goddess of fertility and spring, and since she is a goddes of fertility her symbol is egg, and a rabbit is a symbol from her too as goddess of spring.
So sorry don't mean to attacking your believe or something, i respected what you choose to believe, i just want to share about what i read, you can check it by your self.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eostre
http://www.goddessgift.com/pandora's_box/easter-history.html
@AidaLily (1450)
• United States
31 Mar 13
Very nice research. The fertility goddess changes based on the beliefs between wicca, ancient celtic religions, and much other sources. I have been to coven celebrations in which the ones you mentioned have been the ones worshiped and ones with the goddess Ishtar. The celebrations were truly meant to celebrate the return of spring time and life not necessarily resurrection as that was a Christian addition to the pagan holiday.
1 person likes this
@moneylots87 (521)
• Indonesia
31 Mar 13
@cherryknots, thank you!
@aidalily, thank you, cool! I read about goddess Ishtar too! And u are right, that what i read! :)
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
31 Mar 13
Eggs here in mx, also means new life. Have a happy eatser. Im off to church now..
@stanley777 (9402)
• Philippines
1 Apr 13
I have been to the church too and coming home, just got curious how this egg thing was likened to the Resurrection of Jesus. And was also amazed how members have responded to this discussion. Yeah, egg means fertility and once hatched comes a new life. Have a blessed Easter season too, Maria.
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
1 Apr 13
Thanks we had a great day today. Went to church, and came home I made a big ham dinner for Easter.
@stanley777 (9402)
• Philippines
1 Apr 13
Yes, I guess we have the same cultures/beliefs and habits when it comes to celebrating Christian traditions. In our country, legal holidays starts from Maundy Thursday thru Easter Sunday. So, most family members go back to their hometown to be with family members to celebrate this occasion. Went outing with family members and friends which happens only once a year. That was really a delicious dinner and I guess your family enjoys it.
@RebeccasFarm (89882)
• Arvada, Colorado
2 Mar 21
I am Roman Catholic I understand this
1 person likes this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
31 Mar 13
For fear of repeating what has already been said beforehand, eggs are a course a symbol of new life, did you know about why the Easter Rabbit? It used to be the Easter hare! Because rabbits are known for multiple births, i.e. 'breed like rabbit's the rabbit became the symbol for fertility. Happy Easter. It's wonderful that we remember the true meaning of Easter, it's sad when it becomes over-commercialized.
@stanley777 (9402)
• Philippines
1 Apr 13
Yes, eggs symbolizes fertility where new life will be born after when hatched. The egg, is compared to Jesus's sealed tomb. When the stone cover was moved He was reborn just like an egg when hatched a new life is form. Anyway, as long as the spirit of the season is in us, I guess it doesn't matter how we or others associates His resurrection with any tradition.
@Hopefull90 (921)
• United States
31 Mar 13
You will notice that both Christmas and Easter have religious meaning and secular. The church tried to make these pagan holidays into religious holidays so they could keep celebrating them but the old stayed with the new. I have heard sermons talk about this and was told we should not mix the celebrations. If we want to celebrate Santa Clause then the Christmas story should be left out. If we want to celebrate Easter eggs, bunny rabbits, etc then we should celebrate Christ resurrection some other time. What do you think about that?
@stanley777 (9402)
• Philippines
1 Apr 13
Yes I think so too, they just take it from old traditions and became habitual up to this day. Anyway, as long as the true spirit of the season is in us, I guess it won't matter how we associate it with. Have a blessed Easter Hopefull90.
@cherryknots (7)
• Philippines
31 Mar 13
I have read it somewhere that Easter used to be a day for a certain pagan god "Istah" or something like that. I cannot remember fully.
I am a Christian and I don't thinks Easter eggs and Easter bunny are related to our faith. However, since they have became very popular, it is not bad to relate Christian teachings to them.
@stanley777 (9402)
• Philippines
1 Apr 13
@ cherry,
Yes, it may be a traditional celebration before from our great great forefathers, but to think that an egg when crashed or hatched emerged a new life, it is more likely resembles that of the Resurrection of Jesus. Egg symbolized fertility and rebirth as what had happened to Jesus after having reborn.
@ Aida.
Yeah, some researchers have said that this tradition was practiced by early people before when Christianity was still unknown to them. Maybe, since the early Christians saw that it is their way of celebration for their gods, I guess they also thought, that the egg thing could symbolize what had happened to Jesus too.
@AidaLily (1450)
• United States
31 Mar 13
Ishtar for some of the religions. Many celebrations that Christians celebrate today are actually from older more ancient religions. It isn't bad to associate them with the teachings at all as they were brought in to draw what Christians deemed to be pagans into their religion. Nothing wrong with knowing where they all came from though. As a wiccan, I celebrate the spring equinox and other such things.
Happy Easter to you.
