Mardi Gras / Lent / Easter
As we enter the amazing time leading up to what we commonly call Easter, most of us give little thought to the history and traditions that we follow.
The Mardi Gras, or Carnival, which was celebrated just a few weeks ago, is today one of the most decadent celebrations we have going. Mardi Gras in French means “Fat Tuesday.” It is called “Fat Tuesday” because the Mardi Gras is a celebration of debauchery, drinking and gluttony which ends on Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. The idea is that the season of Lent is coming quickly, a time of fasting and reflection by church traditions, so we need to party hard and “pig out” on “Fat Tuesday” so we can fast on Ash Wednesday.
The season of Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday and follows for forty days, is a tradition that began in the early church. The ashes represent the terms “sackcloth & ashes” indicating a time of repentance and sorrow for sins.
Some historians believe that the early church borrowed this tradition from neighboring pagan traditions. There was almost always a spring festival to the gods of choice. Prior to the lavish celebrations that were fast approaching, a time of fasting and self denial was often taken in preparation for the pagan celebrations to come.
We gleefully celebrate Easter, hiding eggs and the like, without really understanding what we are doing. The following is an excerpt from a Wiccan description of Easter:
Eastre, also spelt Easter, Ostara and Oestre celebrated at the Vernal Equinox (first day of Spring), approx. 21st March.
The Goddess is in her aspect of mother to be. She is Eastre, the Teutonic Goddess of Fertility. Her symbol is the egg, symbolizing fertility in nature and rebirth from the long winter months. The seeds are now sown, ready to grow and ripen. The Goddess is fertile, rich with promise and potential life. (It is from the word “oestre” that we get the word “oestrogen” – the female hormone).
To the Saxons she was Ostara, in myth she is said to have amused children by turning her bird into a rabbit, the rabbit then laid coloured eggs much to the delight of the children.
Day and night are in balance, the union of the Goddess and young God brings all life into order. She represents the blossoming of new awareness, joy in the new life springing forth from the Earth.
The Pagan News describes Easter as follows . . .
A Teutonic lunar Goddess, Eostres chief symbols were the rabbit (she was often seen in this form at the full moon), and the egg (representing the cosmic egg of creation). She is the source of the customs of “Easter Eggs” and the “Easter Bunny”.The name Eostre is said to be related to the word east, which many believe makes her a dawn goddess.
As we head into this season of Lent, and we follow traditions of the early church, it is best we do not do so blindly, but rather informed. It has been said that folks are giving up a certain “cherished sin” for 40 days; you ought not to sin at all, and you might consider not taking it up again!
I personally like to take this time of year to examine my own walk with God. I like to reflect, pray and seek the Lord. I may choose to fast a few days, but it is a personal thing, between me and God. I like to take time to remember what God has done for me. I will reflect on my calling; should I make adjustments, and ask God; am I where He wants me to be, and what does He want me to do going forward?
I like to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and I try not to confuse this with the celebration of a pagan God, but by celebrating the Only God, Jesus!
Many will disagree here, but the first year that Sherri and I were Christians, we stopped lying to our children about the Easter Rabbit, Santa Claus, and the tooth fairy. It seemed better to come clean with them and stop propagating a lie, while at the same time trying to convince them that Jesus died and rose again; a true miracle which can affect their eternity.
So, this year, worship God informed, eyes wide open; understand traditions, follow them if you like, but make sure you know why you do what you do!
Pastor Rock
