What if we called it Resurrection Sunday rather than Easter?
Easter and Christmas remain two of our culture’s most widely celebrated holidays. Both holidays have strong connections with the church and Christianity. At both times of year we have frequent opportunities to share with family, friends, and co-workers what we believe about these holidays.
Unlike Christmas, Easter did not begin as a Christian celebration. The name Easter actually had its roots in Chaldean paganism long before Jesus of Nazareth was born. The fertility goddess “Eostre” was celebrated with many of the customs we currently associate with our modern holiday.*
The church’s attempt to redeem and reinterpret this essentially pagan holiday in light of Jesus’ resurrection has been historically awkward. Some aspects, like the egg, are easier to explain. On the other hand, making a connection between the resurrection and a bunny is a bit more difficult.
So, what if we look for opportunities to refer to this Spring Holiday as Resurrection Sunday rather than Easter? We might find ourselves in some fascinating conversations with family members, friends, and co-workers if we tweaked our vocabulary this way. After all, Jesus rising from death stands at the core of our faith. It's Jesus' resurrection that makes resurrection to life of all kinds possible. Making a conscious choice to intentionally re-frame our vocabulary could open up conversations about these things.
*see Celebrating the Christian Year by Martha Zimmerman.
