Is Easter Pagan?
The question that comes up almost every year: Is Easter pagan? Yes, a little bit. But before you either panic or gloat about that, sit down — because Easter is actually the least interesting part of this story. The word Easter almost certainly derives from Eostre, an Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring and fertility. The eggs and the bunny were her symbols long before they were in any chocolate shop. The date floats around the spring equinox, tied to the first full moon after it — a calculation that would have felt very familiar to any ancient nature-worshipper. So yes, there's pagan DNA in Easter. A little bit. But here's the thing. If Easter's pagan borrowings bother you, you have a much bigger problem. Because the rabbit hole goes a great deal deeper than one spring holiday. The calendar on your wall is entirely pagan. Every day of the week is named after a pagan deity. Sunday honours the Sun. Monday the Moon. Tuesday is Tyr, the Norse god of war. Wednesday is Woden — the An...