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by Toni Star
Most Christians think they know the true meaning of Easter and maybe they do but I got curious the other day and did some research. I wanted to make sure that I understood exactly what Easter represents and where its definition began. So often I’ve heard and seen pagan symbols of Easter, such as bunnies, chocolates and eggs and it bothered me that so many saw these objects as true symbols of Easter and the resurrection. It particularly jarred me when I experienced something at a local beauty shop.
I made an appointment one day in April at a new beauty shop. I thought I’d try it out because I heard good things about it. It was almost spring and hope was in the air. I walked in and immediately saw bunny, chick and porcelain figurines—everywhere! They were lined up inside on the windowsill, on the counters of several hairdressers and on stands next to hairdryers. It was almost as if they had propagated themselves, quietly in the small beauty shop.
I sat down and a hairdresser came over to me and we started talking. I found out that she was responsible for displaying the porcelain figurines. She appeared to be very proud of the accomplishments. I remember her saying something like, “Aren’t they cute? I did this all by myself. I just love ‘putting them up. It takes a lot of time but it’s worth it, don’t you think? They’re so cute and cheerful. You see, these figurines are my special Easter project. Edna, the owner here, likes them and thinks it helps with business.”
Helps with business, I thought. Interesting. I wonder what Christ thought about porcelain objects helping with business…..I recalled what Jesus did when he found moneychangers using the temple for their own gain. Sounded disturbingly familiar.
I replied, “Yes, they’re cute and I can see why kids and adults would enjoy them; however, I think you may be confusing people, especially children. How can porcelain bunnies portray Christ’s resurrection? What has it to do with His death and glorious resurrection?
She looked at me stunned, confused and angry. I could tell by her facial expressions that she didn’t appreciate my “comments” on Easter and her special project. Seconds later she left without saying anything, except shrugging her shoulders and giving me a disdainful look.
After my hair was done I left and never returned. Since then, (it’s been almost seven years) I’ve often wondered if she was still displaying her bunnies and eggs.
After that experience I decided to do some checking into the background of Easter in comparison to the Resurrection. First I went to the Encarta Dictionary, Retrieved on December 15, 2003. This is what I found:
Easter—“1. Christian festival commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 2. day of the Easter festival: the day on which Easter is celebrated, the Sunday following the full moon on or after March 21, 3. Easter weekend: the period from Good Friday to Easter Monday.” Good definition, but I needed more.
Then I found another definition of Easter from M.G. Easton M.A., D,D. Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897….(Put in definition here….
Then I did what I should have done from the beginning----go to the highest source of information on the resurrection and Easter---the Bible. This is what I found in John 11: 25-26: “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”
Also from Acts 1:22 comes this: “Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of her resurrection.”
And from Roman 1:4 comes, “And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.”
For those of us who are familiar and comfortable with Easter, we can more comfortable and secure in the word, Resurrection. Resurrection is the real truth and meaning of what happened that Sunday morning. Christ rose from the dead and from that “highest event,” those who believe in him “shall never die.”
To help clarify for anyone who still has doubts about the true meaning of Easter defining pagan and Easter egg might help.
Pagan, according to Encarta says, “1. a follower of a less popular religion: somebody who does not follow one of the world’s main religions, especially somebody who is not a Christian, Muslim, or Jew, and whose religion is regarded as questionable. 2. Polytheist or pantheist: a follower of an ancient polytheistic or pantheistic religion 3. heathen—somebody who has no religion.
What about Easter egg? Simply put, the Easter egg has nothing to do with the resurrection. From Encarta comes: “1. colored hen’s egg for Easter: a hen’s egg that has been dyed painted or decorated for Easter, often hidden for children to find in an Easter egg hunt,
What does all this mean? Should we abandon all Easter eggs, cute chicks and chocolate? No, but we do need to ensure that when we dole out these goodies to children and when we’re in the process of doing it, we understand—and help our children to understand that these objects are pagan in origin and have nothing to do with the glorious happening we call “Easter” and Christ’s Resurrection. They are separate entities and should be celebrated as such.
So, enjoy and be happy on Easter but always keep in mind the true meaning and event of the season--Christ’s resurrection.
References:
- Easton’s 1897 Bible Dictionary, World Wide Web Version
2. The Holy Bible, KJV
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