The pagan roots of Easter

[*اسلامي عزي*]

How to celebrate Easter in Germany ???











Christians all over the world celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. In Germany, Easter is known as "Ostern" and the commemoration begins a week before, on Palm Sunday, marking Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. The week leading up to Easter is know as Holy Week, or "Karwoche" in German.






Pagan parallels



The pagan festival Ostara, named for the ancient Germanic goddess of fertility, was celebrated during the vernal equinox to mark the beginning of spring. Since the ritual roughly coincides with Easter - which also celebrates new life -, some of the symbolism was shared. That's how the egg and the hare, which both stand for fertility, made their way into our modern-day Easter celebrations.







While the egg as a symbol for life dates back to ancient Rome, the symbolism of the lamb is much older. The Jews of the Old Testament sacrificed unblemished lambs in religious rituals. Christians later adopted the image of the sacrificial lamb in reference to Christ's crucifixion. In Germany, lamb isn't just a main course: Sweet Easter lambs formed from cake and powdered sugar are common.







According to an early Saxon tradition, fires are lit in Germany and elsewhere in northern Europe on Easter Saturday or Sunday. In the pre-Christian spring ritual, the fire was likely meant to expel winter. In rural northern Germany, Easter bonfires are lit by official brigades or on private premises and can turn into small festivals. The fire generally burns throughout the night.

Author: Kate Müser




Main source :

dw.com /english section