If Easter is a pagan holiday why to so many christians celebrate it?
469257
I think that some of the people answering this question would benefit greatly from an elementary history lesson. Easter, in it's original form, was very much a Pagan holiday.  You can deny it until you're blue in the face, that doesn't change history.\n\nWhen Christians were forcing people to convert, they took over the Pagan holidays because it was easier to manipulate those holidays than it was to get Pagans to celebrate new ones.  So, they took over our holidays, built their churches on our sacred space and called it a day.  That's history, not opinion.  It's fact, look it up.
425480
Easter has nothing to do with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is pagan sun worship. Read Ezek 8:16 this is talking about Easter Sun worship! God calls it an abomination. Jesus didn't resurrect on Easter Sunday Morning. I challenge anyone to prove it to me! When you email me make sure I can email you back if your not afraid of the truth! \n  Passover: read Revelation 13:8. The passover is a memorial of the death of Jesus Christ who died for our sins. Easter is Satans counterfeit. Read Matthew 26:26-28. Jesus gave Christians new symbols for the passover the bread and the wine. Read 1St Corinthians 11:23-26 Jesus was killed on the passover. Why is it that Christians want to keep Easter which is not commanded in all the bible, but don't take much thought in what Jesus said to do to remember Him, a memorial of His death. The Passover.
480762
Excellent question!  Especially since my father is a used car salesman.  haha.\n\nAnyways, I know that certain people will not celebrate things like Christmas and Easter because they are not in the Bible, and the reason for this I believe is two-fold.  First of all, the Bible actually prescribes a very specific list of holidays that it requires.  These are the Jewish holidays, such as Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Shavuot, among some others.  Within this law it is stated that no one may add nor take away from the Law.\n\nTherefore, a strict interpretation might seem to indicate that these holidays, AND ONLY THESE HOLIDAYS should be celebrated, at least as RELIGIOUS holidays.\n\nHowever, Jews do celebrate some other holidays besides these because they are believed to be "within the spirit" of the Law.  For example, the Bible teaches that one should rejoice in the great things that God does in history.  So, Hanukkah celebrates a miracle that God performed for the Jewish people, and is considered to be acceptable to celebrate.  But it never is given the high status of the holidays which the Bible specifically describes.\n\nOn the part of Christians, I think it is noteworthy that Jesus seemed to accept the holiday of Hanukkah, even though it was post-Old Testament.  His disciples celebrated it, and Jesus told them to do so.  \n\nMost Christians however do not make this connection though I think, because they are not familiar with Jewish custom, and do not realize that Jesus was referring to Hanukkah when he mentions it.  (I'll get you a verse if you'd like, just ask and I can look it up).\n\nSo some Christians think that no holiday should be celebrated if it is not in the Law.  Christmas and Easter and Birthdays are not mentioned therein.\n\nOthers would say that birthdays are ok because they are not religious.\n\nOthers would say that Christmas and Easter are not permissible because they derive from non-Christian holidays that they believe embraced ideas contrary to their faith.\n\nThere are many things which have become custom and the people tend to assume it is biblical, when really, it is not necessarily.  Even the idea of getting married in a church or place of worship is not mentioned, and yet many would say firmly that a marriage done in a courthouse is not a marriage "in the eyes of God."\n\nI don't know why they would hold this view except that they must be ignorant of what is in their scriptures and what is not.
763916
They know Christmas is pagan but just do not care. They do not realize what a slap in the face to God and Jesus these celebrations are. They are mixing true worship with pagan worship.\n\nDo you think that Jesus Christ would consider it an honor to have his name attached to a “pagan holiday, partly Christianized”? How could this be so when his faithful disciples recognized that there should be no mixing of the darkness of paganism with the light of Christianity? The apostle Paul, for example, reminded fellow Christians at Corinth: “What sharing does light have with darkness? Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what portion does a faithful person have with an unbeliever? And what agreement does God’s temple have with idols? . . . ‘Therefore get out from among them, and separate yourselves,’ says Jehovah, ‘and quit touching the unclean thing.’”—2 Cor. 6:14-17. \n\nWhen Moses came down from the mountain and found the people worshipping the golden calf, they told him it represented God.  They were celebrating to this statue.\nDid Moses say "good idea, lets party". No! but God destroyed over 2,000 people that day for daring to celebrate to an idol.  Just like people do today. Since these holidays are so insulting to God, you can bet Satan has a hand in it.  He will make sure that people keep celebrating these holidays.
986226
My mom was raised by a Presbyterian minister and she was always taught the true meaning of each holiday. We decorate our house with advent calanders and manger scenes, stars and books about the true meaning of Christmas. Despite that, my sister and I always recieved gifts and we understood that those gifts were because it was Jesus' birthday and we were celebrating. We had Santa Claus every year and we had a tree but we knew that we would go to church on Christmas Eve and we would hear the story of the baby born in a manger on that night in Bethlehem. We were even in the Christmas plays every year. Easter was never very commercialized for us because we went to church and, yes, while we still had Easter egg hunts and got Easter baskets, it was more in the fun of Spring than offensive to our beliefs. I think that these holidays are overly commericalized but all we can do is remember the real reasons we have these holidays in the first place. We can teach others about Jesus and why we truly celebrate on these days. As I'm writing this answer I can't help but thinking that maybe the holidays, which are very grown up in a theological sense, were given those little fun things that we all enjoy for the children and to bring out the children in us. As long as we never forget the true meaning to the season, we can celebrate in any way we see fit.
333618
Easter is not a Christian Holiday neither is chocolate candy good for children to eat.Christmas is not a Christian holiday either December 25 is the day Tammuz was born, the son of Nimrod (who I believe to be satan) and Semiramis (the sun god.) Tammuz was killed buy a wildbore or pig. Thats where they get the easter ham. Every first Sunday after the first full moon of spring the sun worshiper would celebrate giving rabbits and eggs as a symbol of Life. Paganism has taken over most christian churches that's why most church worship on Sunday (The Devils Day) Gods Holy day is The Sabbath the 7th day Saturday. This is why The bible warn as against false teachings. Follow Gods commandment out of Love not in the tradition the rest of the so call christians are doing.
979061
this question would not be able to EVER be exact. Are you looking for people that celebrate religiously or are you looking for people who hunt for eggs. to be honest with you Easter started as a pagan holiday. eggs and bunnies have nothing to do with Christ, us Christians "moved" days around so the pagans would not have a holiday of theirs.
475870
The others are right. They are the traditions of man. Specifically Catholic and Pagan men. If you remember, Jesus had a talk with some religious leaders about them pushing their traditions rather than the bare Truth of God's Word. Going by Paul's teachings I shouldn't make you feel bad for celebrating a day to the Lord so I'm not trying to. But I am supposed to warn you of the pagan rituals we all know God doesn't allow! I hope this opens some eyes and God bless all of you on your mission!
420919
Easter is derived from an ancient Germanic name for the month of April, Eostremonat--or rather Eostre Month, in dedication to the goddess Eostre. Eostre, or Ostara was a German goddess of fertility and her return was marked by the coming of spring and the sun. The Ost in her name refers to the East--the rising of the sun. The rebirth of the day and the rebirth of the spring were her specialties, and her celebrations occured during the vernal equinox--the first day of spring. Of course calendar dates have gotten juggled about for quite a few different reasons over time and now April is no longer where it once was on the calendar at what is now March 21st.\n\nThe rabbit was a traditional symbol of the goddess because of its great fertility, and the fact that the coming of spring marked the time when all of the little bunnies were seen starting to be born.\n\nWhen Christianity became the predominant religion it was an easy transition to introduce the rebirth of the Christ figure into the already extant birth and rebirth tradition. Old ways die hard, and the bunny stuck around. \n\nAlthough there are several explanations for the eggs the Easter bunny brings, (other than eggs are another traditional symbol of birth/rebirth) the most likely is that eggs were forbidden during the fast of lent, and were decorated and eaten in abundance to mark the end of the fast.\n\nGerman protestants, although breaking with Roman Catholocism and the tradition of the lent fast, liked the egg tradition and kept it. And when German immigrants came to America, they brought with them the traditions of the Osterhase (Easter hare) and his eggs.\n\nInasmuch as Christianity has stolen the ancient goddess' name for their own holiday, it seems only fitting that its original mascot still puts in an appearance each year.
412388
Because there is no "True meaning".  The celebration of xmas is supposed to represent the birth of jesus, but no one knows when that actually happened (some even question the existence of the man, but that is another subject).\n\n"Easter" is actually the "goddess of fetility" and she represented "life returning" in the spring (after the cold dark winter 'death').\n\nBoth xmas and Easter started as pagan rites/rituals and traditions to celebrate "the return of the sun" after darkness of winters.  xmas was the birthday of a pagan god (I do not recall the name presently), and when the pagan leaders switched to christianity, they kept the rites and holidays, only switched the meaning to match their 'new god' (jesus).\n\nXmas was actully the "yule time" when they went out and got the largest log they could find and burned it for days to bring light back.  It was a HUGE celebration with lots of sex, drinking and partying.  In fact in early American history (when the Puritans were still in charge) xmas was BANNED - because it was such a huge drinking/sex/party.\n\nHow it is celebrated now has only been around for less than 100 years - not really much of a tradition in the sense of its "true meaning".  Its not a celebration of spring, not a celebration of light, not a big party (though there is still drinking by a few).  Easter, also is not celebrated by honoring the goddess whose name it holds, but the symbols of rabbits and eggs (symbols of fertility and new life) are still in the picture.\n\nThe problem, again, is the "real" meaning has been skewed by christians (xians) and so you don't even know that you don't know the true meaning yourself.
1124756
I agree\n\nso-called christians are not following the Bible..only traditions of man\nIf the date of Jesus birth were important, dont you think it would be recorded? Can anyone find a record of Jesus birth being celebrated in the Bible?....I dont think so.  \nThis is because God's people were aware of the pagan roots of birthday celebrations...\n\nWhat is most important concerning Christ and his redeeming mankind is his sacrificial death.\n\nCertainly there are records of that in  the Bible.  Jesus gave the command to remember him (Lu 22:19) this was a new celebration to replace the Passover of the old Mosaic Law\n (every Nisan 14..which falls 14 days after the new moon following the spring equinox--according to the lunar calendar used at that time)
882753
Of course it is, but so is Christmas. December 25 has always been a pagan holiday. Early Christians did not celebrate birthdays only pagans did and John the Baptist lost his head during  Herod's birthday celebration. Santa Claus, gift giving and all the yule tide traditions are very pagan in origin. \n\nChristianity today is very much engulfed in pagan traditions. \n\nAs a pagan myself I think it is ironic that Christians keep our holy days when the bible condemns them.
398880
In the days of the early Christian church, only Easter Sunday was celebrated as a holy day.  By the fourth century, each day of the week preceding Easter were established as holy days including Good Friday.  To most Christians, Good Friday is really a misnomer in that it was a "bad" Friday—the crucifixion day of Jesus.  Some believe the term "Good" evolved from "God" or God's Friday.  Others believe "good" represents the good gift of salvation brought forth by the martyrdom.  Regardless, it is a holy day throughout the Christian world.\n\nCeremonial worship of the holiday follows closely to the events described in the scriptures.  Some congregations still hold a three hour service on Friday representing the three hours He hanged on the cross.  A typical service includes seven distinct elements representative of Christ's seven utterances while on the cross.
577015
Christmas commemorates the birth of Christ, but He likely was born in the springtime. Dec. 25 was a date that other ancient religious groups had set for their own holiday, and Christians began commemorating Christ's birthday on that date to try to bring those cultures into a dialogue about Christ. As for Easter, it commemorates Christ's resurrection from the dead. Check the links below for more information.
323819
Okay . . . Okay . . . the questioner is correct . . . \n\nChristmas is originally a pagan holiday . . . a week long festival . . . actually 12 days long . . . reminds you of a song.\n\nThis holiday was adopted to convert pagans into Christianity . . . and they accepted it hook, line, and sinker.\n\nThe majority of the holidays celebrated by Christian have pagan origins . . . but back to Christmas . . . \n\nSome of you said you celebrate this day in remembrance of the birth of Christ.  Did Christ ask his followers to remember his birth?  No he did not . . . instead he commanded his followers to commemorate the last supper in his remembrance . . . . Not do perform it daily or weekly . . . but annually like the early christians did . . . prior to 325 AD.
151883
Most of the holidays celebrated today have a pagan origin, which means that they aroused from false religions.  These false religions used these celebrations to do bad things, like the worship of false gods and idols.  Many of the holidays today are an excuse for people to eat and drink in excess and commit acts of immorality, which, obviously, are things God condemns.
155437
All the holidays corresponded with the seasons.  Biblical holidays were originally pagan and the pagans believe that one should celebrate the seasons and their changes and believe that what the seasons offer should be held sacred in holiday.  The biblical holidays are not their own.  They were used and borrowed to make it easier for the pagans to convert.  They were being run out of their religion and this is what the church did to make it easier and less conspicuous.