No, Easter Is NOT Pagan: The Truth They Don't Want You to Know
Easter is not pagan. The evidence demolishes every claim about Eostre, fertility eggs, and borrowed myths. Here is the truth.
The Truth About Easter's Origins: Why Claims of Pagan Roots Fall Apart
Every year, as Christians around the world gather to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the same tired claim resurfaces: Easter is really just a recycled pagan holiday. But is there any truth to it?
According to John Stonestreet of the Colson Center's BreakPoint, the answer is a resounding no. Writing for The Christian Post, Stonestreet dismantles the most common arguments one by one.
The most popular claim is that the word "Easter" derives from Eostre, an Anglo Saxon goddess. However, Stonestreet points out a glaring problem with this theory.
There is no evidence, aside from Bede, of a goddess named Eostre.
The eighth century monk known as the Venerable Bede is the sole historical source for this supposed deity. A more credible explanation, Stonestreet argues, traces the word to "alba" (meaning dawn) in Old High German, which evolved into "eostarum" and eventually "Easter."
What about Easter eggs and bunnies? Stonestreet notes that the practice of decorating eggs began in the 13th century, many centuries after European paganism had already declined. The egg was understood as a symbol of the resurrection, with Christ emerging from the tomb like a chick breaking free from its shell. Rabbits were not associated with Easter until the 17th century, making any claim of pagan continuity implausible.
Some have tried to connect Easter with the ancient Sumerian myth of Tammuz and Ishtar, claiming the Christian resurrection story was borrowed from this pagan death and rebirth narrative. Stonestreet responds directly.
This myth bears little resemblance to the resurrection story.
The differences are stark: Jesus spent three days in the tomb and rose permanently. The pagan myths share almost nothing in common with the historical claims of Christianity.
Perhaps most compellingly, Stonestreet references C.S. Lewis, who proposed that pagan myths were actually "good dreams" that foreshadowed the coming of Christ, not the other way around. In other words, if ancient cultures sensed that death could be conquered, it was because that truth was woven into creation itself, and it found its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus.
Debunking the Easter Pagan Myth: What Every Christian Should Know
The Christian celebration of Easter dates back to the second century, with Mediterranean Christians already commemorating Christ's resurrection annually. This predates any recorded Germanic or Nordic spring festivals, demolishing the narrative that Christians simply adopted a pre existing pagan celebration.
Scholars widely agree that the Christian Easter is deeply rooted in the Jewish Passover. Christ was crucified on the day before Passover and rose on the third day. The chronology, rituals, and theological significance all point to Jewish origins, not pagan ones.
The Crusader's Opinion
It is Easter Sunday. Christ is risen. And yet, right on schedule, the internet is flooded with the same lazy, debunked claims that our holiest celebration is nothing more than warmed over paganism. Let me be direct: this is not scholarship. It is an attack. Every year, the secular world tries to strip the resurrection of its power by burying it under myths about fertility goddesses and spring rabbits. They will never do this to Ramadan. They will never do this to Diwali. Only Christianity gets this treatment, because only Christianity makes claims that terrify the powers of this world. Christ conquered death. That is not a myth. That is the most dangerous truth in human history, and no amount of revisionist nonsense will change it.
Take Action
- Share the truth: Send John Stonestreet's article to a friend or family member who has heard the "Easter is pagan" claim. Knowledge is the antidote to deception. Read the full article here.
- Equip your church: Ask your pastor to address common myths about Christian holidays in a sermon series or Bible study group. Resources from the Colson Center are an excellent starting point.
- Defend the faith online: When you see social media posts claiming Easter is pagan, respond with facts and grace. Catholic Answers has a thorough rebuttal: No, Easter Is Not a Pagan Holiday.
- Support Christian journalism and persecuted believers around the world through The Shepherd's Shield.
- Read C.S. Lewis's works, especially Miracles and Mere Christianity, to deepen your understanding of how Christianity fulfills, rather than borrows from, the longings expressed in ancient myths.
