Every year during the time of the equinox, traditions across faiths prepare for celebrations and holidays.
What is the importance of this time? How come they all celebrate during this time?
What do bunnies laying chocolate eggs and the Son of God celebrating Pesach have to do with each other? Is there a common thread?
Why English countries celebrate Easter, Latin countries celebrate Pascha, Jews Celebrate Passover and Hindus Celebrate Holi?
To start with, we see that the common ground is the timing of the celebrations, a bright, beautiful full moon. It is not celebrated on the same date (according to the gregorian, Sun based calendar) but on the same bright full moon. The event is based on the ancient Lunar calendar (which has its roots back to the Sumerian times), indicating the seasons, helping farmers worldwide follow the flow of nature.
This full moon marks the arrival of spring in the northern hemisphere and the blossoming of colours, crops and abundance in nature. In India, Holi is celebrated to mark the colours and plenty that comes with spring. Besides dancing in the streets, throwing colours on each other, they invoke Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of nature and abundance. Goddess Lakshmi is also the deity of the planet Venus according to Vedic astrology. During the Equinox, Venus makes its transition from being the evening star (during the 6 months of fall and winter) and become the morning star (during the next 6 months of spring and summer). By Invoking Lakshmi, they acknowledge the transition of Venus and its influence on nature.
At the same time, far from India, some old European traditions celebrated Easter and, for the same reason, marking the arrival of Spring, The Goddess Ester (or in Old Germanien Ēostre or Ostara) is an ancient Europian Pagan Goddess, a localised version of Lakshmi.
She is responsible for the daily resurrection of the Sun, in charge of Dawn and Dusk, the different seasons, and not surprisingly, her animal is a Bunny.
Some believe that she is related to
Sumerian Goddesses Ishtar, yet the dots are not fully connecting; Ishtar (or Inanna) was the Goddess of War and Love, thunder and rain, riding a lion and holding a Sword, the only thread that I could find was a similarity in names and their relation to the planet Venus.
Ishtar Goddess is more of a middle east character. In the old bible, she is mentioned as "Astarte" (hidden) and was hanging in the Israeli Desert.
So, is it Passover, Pesach, Pascha or Easter?
During the transition into Christianity, Constantine was smart enough to adapt and assimilate the old traditions instead of fighting them. English wasn't even invented yet; therefore, Easter as a Holi-Day wasn't an option. To this date, Latin base countries refer to the Resurrection Sunday as Pascha and not Easter.
Pascha and Pesach are both derived from the same old Aramit root and mean the same- Pass Over.
Jesus Last bit-
Many similar characteristics also link the Passover meal, AKA Seder and the Last Supper,
The Last Supper of Jesus and its symbolic factors, like the wine and unleavened bread, eating of the Paschal lamb, the lavish setting, the timings are too similar to Passover dinner to ignore.
So, to conclude,
The link we cannot deny, the beautiful, bright full moon, the change of season and the beginning of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Nature blooms, and food grows in abundance, the celebration of regeneration, resurrection of life and the good vibes we get from Mother Nature.
It is definitely a great time to come together, celebrate and enjoy each other's company. Whatever it may be for; for the sacrifice of Jesus, the passing from slavery to freedom, the appreciation for the Goddess of nature or recognition of spring by bunnies and chocolate.
Enjoy the Good times.
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Source
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%92ostre
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_calendar#:~:text=The%20Hebrew%20calendar%20is%20a,are%20based%20on%20solar%20years.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Astarte-ancient-deity
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_the_Great_and_Christianity
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/jesus-historical-jesus/was-jesus-last-supper-a-seder/
https://bellejar.ca/2013/03/28/easter-is-not-named-after-ishtar-and-other-truths-i-have-to-tell-you/