In the English language, March was originally the first month of the year and is named after the god Mars. If you count March as number one you will notice that September through December all have months that start with Latin roots (e.g. Septem-7, Octo-8, Novem-9, Decem-10), and the other months are named after other mythological deities and two Roman Ceasars: Janus, Februalis, Mars, Aprilis, Maya, Juno, Julius Ceasar and Augustus Ceasar.
Similarly, the days of the week are named for Germanic/Norse/Roman deities aside from the first two days named for the Sun and Moon: Sun’s Day, Moon’s Day, Tiw’s Day, Wodan’s Day, Thor’s Day, Frigga’s Day, Saturn’s Day.
Finally we come to the macro timeline where the writers of Caucasian history decided to use the blossoming christian mythology to split its written history into two parts: Before Christ, B.C., and the Latin “In the year of our Lord,” anno domini, A.D.
Since roman mythology paid homage to the yearly sun cycle and seasons, they celebrated with feasts around the Spring Equinox as it signaled the end of the cold weather (defeating death) and the coming planting season (creating life). Particular to most cultures was waiting for the moon to finish its own cycle so that the most important things in the sky would both be in agreement that Spring was officially in full swing. It is during this time that flowers have begun to bloom and open up, which is why this month is called “April” (to open…see the Spanish “abra la puerta” – “open the door”). The week leading up to that full moon would be celebrated by Romans carrying Palm and Pine trees through the streets in anticipation of the coming harvest and life-giving food supplies. Often palm leaves would remain in the streets after having been paraded around during the celebrations. (Please note that these traditions only made sense in the northern hemisphere where the temperatures would be getting warmer, thus “Spring.”)
Taking all of this into account, you now know the history of the traditions that lead up to Easter (or Ostra, Ostara, Eoster, or any other pagan goddess name you like). And it is quite clear to see how Constantine shrewdly assimilated conquered cultures by moving his mythological holidays to match those of the conquered. And since Easter is the christian holiday celebrating defeat of death and the promise of new life, and since the sun’s-day had evolved to be the day of worship for christians, Easter was eventually established to be on the first Sun-day after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox.
And now you hopefully know a little more. 🙂
Jacob Frasier 