Happy Easter!
Is Easter a pagan holiday? In the ancient Church the feast of Christ’s resurrection was the pinnacle of the Christian year. Following a three year process of training and education, converts were baptized and received their first communion at Easter. Holy Saturday night began with candlelight, and anticipated the return of Jesus Christ. As dawn came, Christians joyfully celebrated Christ’s resurrection and victory over evil.
How has this understanding been lost? Probably because the world has hijacked Easter and turned it into a marketing / sales holiday for our consumerist culture. Pagan elements pervade popular Easter activities, some redeemable by the Church and others not. But here are some articles dispelling the myth that Easter is just a Christianized pagan festival.
