Posts
How the tradition of coloring the eggs got started is not completely understood, though some historians trace the practice back to ancient Greece and Persia.
The egg has been a symbol of fertility and rebirth for thousands of years. Virtually every pagan culture around the world has employed the use of the egg in their fertility rituals.
The ENCARTA ENCYCLOPEDIA;
"The Easter egg is associated with beliefs of particularly ancient origin. The egg was an important symbol in the mythologies of many early civilizations, including those of India and Egypt. It was commonly believed that the universe developed from a great egg and that the halves of its shell corresponded to Heaven and Earth. The egg was also connected with the springtime fertility rituals of many pre-Christian and Indo-European peoples, and both the Egyptians and the Persians made a practice of coloring eggs in the spring. In Christianity the egg is a symbol of resurrection, representing the emergence of Christ from his tomb to everlasting life."
The ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA p. 859, Art., "EASTER" says,
"The egg as a symbol of fertility and of renewed life goes back to the ancient Egyptians and Persians, who had also the custom of coloring and eating eggs during their spring festival."
The ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RELIGION, 1987, p. 37, "Egg":
"In traditional folk religion the egg is a powerful symbol of fertility, purity and rebirth. It is used in magical rituals to promote fertility and restore virility; to look into the future; to bring good weather; to encourage the growth of crops and protect both cattle and children against misfortune, especially the dreaded evil eye. All over the world it represents life and creation, fertility and resurrection ... Later [customs concerning eggs] were linked with Easter. The church did not oppose this, though many egg customs were pre-Christian in origin, because the egg provided a fresh and powerful symbol of the Resurrection and the transformation of death into life"
The giving of eggs during the spring equinox is also a very ancient custom.
The World Encyclopedia, 2005:
"The exchange of Easter eggs is a pre-Christian rite."
So how could a symbol of pagan fertility rites become entrenched in the church's celebration of Easter?
The Catholic Church enticed pagans to convert to Christianity by disguising the celebrations with Christian themes and allowing the people to keep some of their pagan traditions.
Read the quote from Pope Pius below.
Pope Pius V approved this blessing to be used for the eggs: "Bless, O Lord, we beseech Thee, this Thy creature of eggs, that it may become a wholesome sustenance to Thy faithful servants, eaten in thankfulness to Thee, on account of the Resurrection of Our Lord."
In ancient Babylon it was believed that the goddess Astarte hatched from a giant egg that had landed in the Euphrates River.
The idea of a mystic egg spread throughout the world originating in Babylon. James G. Frazer, The Golden Bough, Vol. 12, 3rd Edition (1907-15, reissued 1935-36 and 1955); Maria Leach, editor, Funk and Wagnall's Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend, Vol. 1 (1949).
As previously stated, eggs have been used in various cultures and religions to represent the different aspects of fertility and new life. The philosophical or cosmic egg is another nearly universal symbol. Alchemically, the egg is a symbol of the cosmos, as it is in a multitude of folk legends. In Hindu cosmology, it is the source of the universe. The egg as a container of the universe is found in many ancient religions. The egg symbolizes birth and potential. It contains within a miniature sun, and it features prominently in solar mythology. The gods Vishnu, Phanes, and Mithras, are all "egg born" solar deities. Another solar entity, the rooster, is also born of an egg. - from an article found at: www.altreligion.about.com
Wiccans (witches) color eggs still to this day in honor of Ostara (Easter).
"Ostara is a time of fertility and rebirth, and few things symbolize this as well as the egg. By coloring them with bright pinks, blues and yellows, we're welcoming the colors of spring back into our lives, and saying farewell to winter."
- Pattie Wigington from 'Your Guide to Paganism/Wicca'.
5 comments:
We are approaching that time of the year again, and I agree with your comments regarding the Catholic Church. It therefore confuses me to find The Passion listed in your favorite films. Are you aware of the film's strong Catholic agenda? I wrote a post on it a couple of years ago if you are interested... http://col2v8.blogspot.com/2007/06/critique-of-mel-gibsons-passion-of.html
God bless, Jono
Well, I thought I was aware of the Catholic themes running through the film, but after having read your critique of it, I was a bit surprised at the depth of the deception.
When I had first seen the film, I will say that it "struck" me, so to speak. I had never thought about what Messiah did for me and it challenged me to go to the Scriptures.
The film is far from perfect, but if God can use me (and I hope He does) then I know He used that film.
I will say that even though the violence does tend to distract from the fact that Yeshua took on our INIQUITIES, Isaiah 52:14 says that He was marred, or disfigured, more than any other man. This seems to be speaking in the physical sense to point out the abuse our Lord took for our sakes. Not that the physical outweighs the spiritual punishment He received, but it was awful non-the-less, and He did all of it for us.
Having said that, though, the touch of Catholicism is too strong for me, I think I'll be taking that movie off my list! Thanks brother for questioning!
blessings,
Jason
Grand :)
Isaiah 52:14 is an interesting one. I've always considered it to be in regard to the sin imputed to Him. Sin, in the Bible, is often likened to leprosy, which disfigures, and given that there have been people mangled by trains or burnt to death and so on... I can only assume that this verse refers to Him spiritually. Not to take anything away from His physical suffering, but it is the fact that He became sin for us that is such a major component in the equation of our salvation and His glory.
God bless, Jono
Perhaps. I don't want to dispute over doubtful matters, and certainly the spiritual aspect outweighs the physical.
Though, I'm careful not to "spiritualize" passages that otherwise seem to portray a physical discription. Other verses clearly represent the physical abuse our Lord took (Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12; Psalm 22:15,16,18;69:20-22; Micah 5:1; Zechariah 12:10) even though they are given in the form of a vision. True, that people may have been disfigured more than our Lord, but this (Is 52:14) is given to show the extremity of what He took for us. The spiritual usually comes through in physical form.
Unfortunately, I think most people focus too much on the physical when Scripture doesn't as much. He took our sins because we have transgressed HIS LAW. He took on our sins/lawlessness. We have fallen short of HIS STANDARD and therefore deserve much more than we receive, yet HE took our place! Hallelujah!
AMEN!
Post a Comment