The Origins of Easter...

[apokalypse]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t31.0-8/11130501_10152927348288842_8599548324121553289_o.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/11129901_849605355119539_7086803056233980447_n.jpg?oh=a9a5516cde63365b3944944dcbf94089&oe=55B6AE29&__gda__=1437164611_33124e966bb0bf2ce956d6a21555ab2c

just saw that picture on David Icke Facebook and wonder who true is that or just an disinfo? going to spent sometime later doing abit research on it.

[ghostrider]

most of what we know is based on sun worship , the sun rising over the east star ...

[Bluegreen]

How did a remembrance of the tragic and bloody murder by the authorities of the historical figure known as Jesus of Nazareth
Turn into a story
About a giant bunny who brings kids chocolate?
How did that happen?
:confused:

[A Voice from the Mountains]

The more historically accurate question would be the opposite: how did a celebration of bunnies and eggs and having lots of babies turn into a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus? Also happens to be the Jewish passover and the spring equinox, all within a few days.

[Bluegreen]

"...a celebration of bunnies and eggs and having lots of babies..."
Huh?
"...turn into a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus..."
Huh?
Which came first? Jesus or the egg?

[Innocent Warrior]

It's been years since I researched this so I'm not much help with the details, but yes, the origins are Pagan, which is much older than Christianity.

What came first, Jesus or the egg, is that a trick question? Even if we were to believe his Mum was a virgin, Jesus still came from her ovum.

[Cidersomerset]

Yeah I saw it as well the full article.................

============================================
Happy Ishtar Day: The Origins of Easter

Sunday 5th April 2015 at 07:55 By David Icke

http://www.davidicke.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Untitled4-587x366.jpg



‘Today from Sandy Bay, Maine to San Diego, California, Americans
will don their Sunday Best, attend a religious service, and enjoy the
Spring air while their kids search for candy and eggs. A joyous
celebration on both the Christian and secular calendar, it wasn’t
always that way — or maybe it was.

Easter was looked on with some skepticism by the ultra-religious
Puritan sect when they showed up at Plymouth Bay. According to
author Steve Englehart, these earlier settlers had bona fide religious
reasons to eschew the holiday. “They knew that pagans had
celebrated the return of spring long before Christians celebrated
Easter…for the first two hundred years of European life in North
America, only a few states, mostly in the South, paid much
attention to Easter.”’

Read more: Happy Ishtar Day: The Origins of Easter


http://jonathanturley.org/2012/04/08/happy-ishtar-day-the-origins-of-easter/

[panopticon]

Part of the reason for Christianities success is that it adapts, adopts and incorporates local beliefs into it when its convenient.

Locals have deities that they worship? Make certain deities seem similar to certain saints.
Local celebration of something? Make it a Christian festival.


By the end of the Fourth Century, pagan sacrifice was banned, and emperors redirected a large part of the empire's revenues towards the ever expanding budget of the church. Pagan shrines became Christian churches, and Christian saints and holy days were substituted for local deities and Roman holidays (pg 56).
Exploring Church History By Derek Cooper
This has continued throughout history and is a strategy well known in South America:

The Spaniards, in converting the people to Catholicism, followed a deliberate strategy of syncretism that was used throughout the Americas. This process sought to substitute Christian saints for local deities, often using existing temple sites as the location of churches.
Peru: A Country Study (http://countrystudies.us/peru/45.htm)
That's probably why Constantine et al got it accepted as the State religion of Rome and from there why it spread through Europe.

Do people actually believe the cross in the sky & Constantine's victory (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Milvian_Bridge) myth? Just a story told to spread Constantine's power and control the more powerful religious sects in the empire. That's why there are so many variations of the story in the Roman literature of the time.

Constantine didn't convert to Christianity because of a vision... At least his mother, Helena (supposedly a maid before wedding the emperor), probably already was. Constantine's conversion at the height of his entrance into power would have made sense and been politically very convenient in controlling the various powerful pagan factions...

Helena (later Saint Helena (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helena_%28empress%29)...) wandered around the middle east creating the early myths of Christianity (or having them created for her by locals after some financial/social reward). For example, she's supposed to have found a crucifixion cross and built/renovated multiple churches. There's all sorts of places she roamed around in Palestine giving biblically important names and significance to... She's the one who gave significance to Nazareth and built a church on a site she declared was where Mary allegedly heard the word (http://www.caryana.org/brief/brief29.html) from an angel. Helena also had a church built over the cave (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_Nativity) where she reckoned Jesus was born in Bethlehem

Anyway, that's one of the reasons why Christianity has been so successful.

It is a religion of adoption and adaptation.

-- Pan

[Selkie]

Um, Ishtar's "moon egg" is a hallucinogenic mushroom, folks, probably one that comes up in spring, like Liberty Caps. Liberty Caps grow in grass, and in their button stage, I would not be surprised if they look like rabbit droppings.

http://files.shroomery.org/files/051202-5/70635-saamoriniscaps1.jpg

Oh, and by the way (although amanitas come up in the fall), note the hair style on the "venus".

http://www.mykoweb.com/photos/Amanita_muscaria(mgw-QC-01).jpg

http://imgc.allpostersimages.com/images/P-473-488-90/13/1351/N3IS000Z/posters/the-venus-of-willendorf-fertility-symbol-pre-historic-sculpture-30000-25000-bc-front-view.jpg

an addition

http://members.tripod.com/lysergia_2/psychedelia/DemeterPersephone_Psychedelia_s.jpg

[Gardener]

IMHO the origin of Easter or rather the vernal equinox is the sun, without which nothing has life on this beautiful blue marble. How much more fundamental truth do we need. Time and again wise ones, real people, incarnated and left a trail of knowledge, they all tell more or less the same story its anagogic; Universal knowledge.

[GloriousPoetry]

Easter is a pagan holiday which is the feminine polarity which refers to the cosmic rebirth of a cycle our mother earth experiences with the regenerative help of the masculine polarity of our father sun.

[Selkie]

...Easter was looked on with some skepticism by the ultra-religious
Puritan sect when they showed up at Plymouth Bay. According to
author Steve Englehart, these earlier settlers had bona fide religious
reasons to eschew the holiday. “They knew that pagans had
celebrated the return of spring long before Christians celebrated
Easter…for the first two hundred years of European life in North
America, only a few states, mostly in the South, paid much
attention to Easter.”’

Protestants seem to be pretty much like Jews who have accepted Jesus as the Second Coming, while Catholics are pretty much like pagans. Where Jesus fits into the Catholic scheme, I don't know, but there is a theory that holds that Jesus was actually Caesarion, the son of Caesar and Cleopatra

http://cosmicconvergence.org/?p=287

Actually, nobody seemed to have liked or wanted Jesus...not the Jews and not the pagans. The Jews and the pagans both scapegoated him. On top of that, nobody knows if he was even real or not.

What a mess.

p.s. When you read the New Testament, Jesus comes of sounding like a cult leader and a psychopath, and his disciples sound like cult followers:


Well, strong Bible incidents and sayings abound, and reveal a Jesus that amply meets three or four diagnostic criteria of, say, a psychopath who wants to rule the world and lord it over others and so on (antisocial type) - why not recognise it?

http://oaks.nvg.org/mental-jesus.html

[Hervé]

Hmmm... let's see if I got this straight:

Every year, little kids are sent out on a wild UFO (Moon "egg") chase in the hope they'll run into a Playboy centerfold coming out of it that'll teach them in which ways the moon cycle and that of the female of their species are co-related in order to breed like rabbits?

... hmmm... else, it was a population-control psy-op...

[Selkie]

http://www.cromleck-de-rennes.com/images/magdalene-egg.jpg

https://www.anbg.gov.au/fungi/images/0021.jpg

[CD7]

More importantly HOW are human beings so Gullible?!! So many just go about ROUTINES without questioning.. its insane when one really thinks about it...I mean we really are a dumb species.....as this is just a sliver of an example when most on this site knows THERES SO MUCH MORE behaviors people engage in with no real true purpose AND THEN theres even more behaviors under the radar tht ALL have NO CLUE ABOUT............................................

[A Voice from the Mountains]

"...a celebration of bunnies and eggs and having lots of babies..."
Huh?
"...turn into a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus..."
Huh?
Which came first? Jesus or the egg?

The egg, of course. :P

Easter = Ishtar = A Babylonian fertility goddess.

Eggs are symbols of fertility, so are bunnies because they multiply "like rabbits," as the saying goes.

In the Romance languages, Easter is called Pascua, Pasqua, Paques, etc., deriving from the Latin "Pascha," which comes from Hebrew word for the passover, "Pesach."

But, the ancient Germanic roots of English preserved the celebration along another line of religious tradition: the polytheistic worship of gods that traces back to Babylon and Sumeria, including the goddess Ishtar: Easter.

[Selkie]

"...a celebration of bunnies and eggs and having lots of babies..."
Huh?
"...turn into a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus..."
Huh?
Which came first? Jesus or the egg?

The egg, of course. :P

Easter = Ishtar = A Babylonian fertility goddess.

Eggs are symbols of fertility, so are bunnies because they multiply "like rabbits," as the saying goes.

In the Romance languages, Easter is called Pascua, Pasqua, Paques, etc., deriving from the Latin "Pascha," which comes from Hebrew word for the passover, "Pesach."

But, the ancient Germanic roots of English preserved the celebration along another line of religious tradition: the polytheistic worship of gods that traces back to Babylon and Sumeria, including the goddess Ishtar: Easter.
I've been thinking that putting hawthorn branches over the doors on May Day may be the pagan equivalent of the blood of the lambs put on the doors for Passover.

Thinking further, hawthorn is very thorny, hence its name. I don't know a lot about the story of Jesus's passion, but what if the crown of thorns was made of hawthorn branches, which would mark him as a pagan? Hawthorn grows in the middle east.

[Peace of Mind]

Jesus had his birthday taken by Satan Claws, a talking snow man, and a reindeer with a small red light bulb for a nose. people go chop down some poor pine tree, throw all kinds of things on it...then toss it in the trash as if it meant nothing to the world but a symbol of a false holiday. And then he (Jesus) had his death day taken by a bunny that lays colorful eggs and craps jelly beans. smh

On top of it all…many parents find it fun and harmless for their children to believe in these lies. In my youth, I recalled having a few kids upset with me and their parents because I told them the truth (including the tooth fairy).

I wonder how many people are still saying “OMG” and “Jesus freakin Christ” .

Peace

[Selkie]

Jesus had his birthday taken by Satan Claws, a talking snow man, and a reindeer with a small red light bulb for a nose. people go chop down some poor pine tree, throw all kinds of things on it...then toss it in the trash as if it meant nothing to the world but a symbol of a false holiday. And then he (Jesus) had his death day taken by a bunny that lays colorful eggs and craps jelly beans. smh

On top of it all…many parents find it fun and harmless for their children to believe in these lies. In my youth, I recalled having a few kids upset with me and their parents because I told them the truth (including the tooth fairy).

I wonder how many people are still saying “OMG” and “Jesus freakin Christ” .

Peace

I don't like jelly beans, either.

[sandpainter]

Happy Vernal holidays friends!
Here's an article that calls into question the possibly spurious connection between Ishtar & Easter.
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/anthropology-in-practice/2013/03/31/beyond-ishtar-the-tradition-of-eggs-at-easter/
For your added enjoyment of research into this topic, here is an article listing the remarkable similarities between Horus & Jesus.
https://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/jksadegh/A%20Good%20Atheist%20Secularist%20Skeptical%20Book%20Collection/Parallels_between_Jesus_and_Horus_an_Egyptian_God.pdf

Sandpainter

[Gardener]

Sharing this vid of Bill Donahue about Easter from an astrotheology point of view which also contains some interesting parts about Ishtar and Tammuz. These presentations are 15-20 years old now.
QcoJdXKGZbQ

[A Voice from the Mountains]

I've been thinking that putting hawthorn branches over the doors on May Day may be the pagan equivalent of the blood of the lambs put on the doors for Passover.

Thinking further, hawthorn is very thorny, hence its name. I don't know a lot about the story of Jesus's passion, but what if the crown of thorns was made of hawthorn branches, which would mark him as a pagan? Hawthorn grows in the middle east.

Yes, there's a lot of interesting information in this regard. There's also some evidence that the Last Supper may have been inspired by "Celtic" traditions or some related lineage, since, unlike a lot of the rest of the New Testament, it has no apparent relation to Jewish customs.

In the New Testament there is also Paul's epistle to the Galatians. Galatia was so named because it was settled by the Gauls, as in, the same general group of "Celtic" peoples living in France when Caesar invaded. But they were also living in what is now central Turkey.

(I put "Celtic" in quotes because the word "Celts" comes from the Greek "Keltoi" which literally means "milk-faces." The Celts were diverse and mysterious groups of people and not one single culture or tribe or race.)

[Selkie]

I've been thinking that putting hawthorn branches over the doors on May Day may be the pagan equivalent of the blood of the lambs put on the doors for Passover.

Thinking further, hawthorn is very thorny, hence its name. I don't know a lot about the story of Jesus's passion, but what if the crown of thorns was made of hawthorn branches, which would mark him as a pagan? Hawthorn grows in the middle east.

Yes, there's a lot of interesting information in this regard. There's also some evidence that the Last Supper may have been inspired by "Celtic" traditions or some related lineage, since, unlike a lot of the rest of the New Testament, it has no apparent relation to Jewish customs.

In the New Testament there is also Paul's epistle to the Galatians. Galatia was so named because it was settled by the Gauls, as in, the same general group of "Celtic" peoples living in France when Caesar invaded. But they were also living in what is now central Turkey.

(I put "Celtic" in quotes because the word "Celts" comes from the Greek "Keltoi" which literally means "milk-faces." The Celts were diverse and mysterious groups of people and not one single culture or tribe or race.)

That is really very interesting, bsbray...about the Last Supper, I mean.

And of course the cup is the Holy Grail. But what if the Grail was a symbol long before the Last Supper? In other words, what if the legend of the Grail does not come from the Last Supper, but if the Last Supper comes from the legend of the Grail, especially if, as you say, the Last Supper does not come from Jewish tradition but may be Celtic in origin?

p.s. I've been meaning to reply to you for days! Sorry that it took me so long :o

[A Voice from the Mountains]

And of course the cup is the Holy Grail. But what if the Grail was a symbol long before the Last Supper? In other words, what if the legend of the Grail does not come from the Last Supper, but if the Last Supper comes from the legend of the Grail, especially if, as you say, the Last Supper does not come from Jewish tradition but may be Celtic in origin?

I think you've hit the nail on the head. A lot of people believe the grail story comes to us from the same time as the King Arthur mythos. King Arthur was an ancient king of Wales, I believe historically so (and so did all the Welsh until the English dismantled their entire educational system), somewhere around 500-600 AD. I don't know if those people qualify as Celts, but since the word "Celt" comes from the Greek for "milk-face" it probably makes little difference how it's categorized.

The Welsh around the time of King Arthur had a very deep and complex system of spirituality but not a whole lot of it survives.


Here's a book about it: "King Arthur's Raid on the Underworld: The Oldest Grail Quest"

http://www.amazon.com/King-Arthurs-Raid-Underworld-Oldest/dp/0906362725/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1407366912&sr=1-1&keywords=caitlin+matthews+king+arthur


The 9th century Welsh poem "Preiddeu Annfwyn" or "The Raid on the Underworld" ascribed to the 6th century poet and shaman Taliesin, is one of the oldest and most enigmatic documents relating to the mythic hero Arthur that we still possess. Extending to a mere 61 lines, it contains within it vital clues to the Celtic Mystery traditions of this and earlier times. Describing the descent of Arthur and his men on the ship Prydwen into the region of Annwfn (literally, 'the in-world' or underworld of Celto-British tradition, or Annwn in modern Welsh) in order to steal the wonder-working cauldron from the Lord of Annwfn, this poem hides many secrets within its shimmering lines. The cauldron is one of the Thlysau or Treasures, hallowed otherworldly objects that are the source of illimitable power. Arthur's quest for the cauldron of the underworld is a precursor of many more famous quests, while the cauldron itself is the forerunner of the Grail.

[Selkie]

And of course the cup is the Holy Grail. But what if the Grail was a symbol long before the Last Supper? In other words, what if the legend of the Grail does not come from the Last Supper, but if the Last Supper comes from the legend of the Grail, especially if, as you say, the Last Supper does not come from Jewish tradition but may be Celtic in origin?

I think you've hit the nail on the head. A lot of people believe the grail story comes to us from the same time as the King Arthur mythos. King Arthur was an ancient king of Wales, I believe historically so (and so did all the Welsh until the English dismantled their entire educational system), somewhere around 500-600 AD. I don't know if those people qualify as Celts, but since the word "Celt" comes from the Greek for "milk-face" it probably makes little difference how it's categorized.

The Welsh around the time of King Arthur had a very deep and complex system of spirituality but not a whole lot of it survives.


Here's a book about it: "King Arthur's Raid on the Underworld: The Oldest Grail Quest"

http://www.amazon.com/King-Arthurs-Raid-Underworld-Oldest/dp/0906362725/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1407366912&sr=1-1&keywords=caitlin+matthews+king+arthur


The 9th century Welsh poem "Preiddeu Annfwyn" or "The Raid on the Underworld" ascribed to the 6th century poet and shaman Taliesin, is one of the oldest and most enigmatic documents relating to the mythic hero Arthur that we still possess. Extending to a mere 61 lines, it contains within it vital clues to the Celtic Mystery traditions of this and earlier times. Describing the descent of Arthur and his men on the ship Prydwen into the region of Annwfn (literally, 'the in-world' or underworld of Celto-British tradition, or Annwn in modern Welsh) in order to steal the wonder-working cauldron from the Lord of Annwfn, this poem hides many secrets within its shimmering lines. The cauldron is one of the Thlysau or Treasures, hallowed otherworldly objects that are the source of illimitable power. Arthur's quest for the cauldron of the underworld is a precursor of many more famous quests, while the cauldron itself is the forerunner of the Grail.

But the grail or cauldron belongs to the goddess. It always has, and it always will. So if a king had the cauldron in his possession, then he (the king) probably had "possession" of the high shaman-ess of the goddess, and Arthur wanted to steal her for himself. We are looking at a tale of the usurpation of feminine/female knowledge, sexuality and magic, I think, and maybe even the actual kidnapping and/or forced marriage of a shamaness of very high lineage. They did stuff like that all the time back then.

an addition:
The scenario of a forced marriage to a foreign king makes sense of Da Vinci's painting of the Last Supper, too, because he has Mary ("John") leaning as far away from Jesus as she can get. No shamaness in her right mind would ever marry if she had the choice not to.

[Selkie]

Easter is a pagan holiday which is the feminine polarity which refers to the cosmic rebirth of a cycle our mother earth experiences with the regenerative help of the masculine polarity of our father sun.
Yes, the sun is the God of the Year.

an addition
But these things were acted out by human representatives of the god and goddess, too.