Easter is mentioned in the Bible. Doesn’t that show we should acknowledge and celebrate it?
You must be referring to Acts 12:4 which says, “And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.”
The Greek word for Easter is ‘pascha’. We find this word used twenty-seven times in the Bible. In every other instance, the word is translated ‘Passover’. The King James Bible is virtually the only translation that uses the word ‘Easter’ in this instance. Almost all other Bible translations use the word ‘Passover’ here.
Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words defines Easter this way: “PASCHA”, mistranslated “Easter” in Acts 12:4 (A.V.), denotes the Passover (R.V.). The phrase “after the Passover” signifies after the whole festival was at an end. The term Easter is not of Christian origin. It is another form of ‘Astarte’, one of the titles of the Chaldean goddess, the queen of heaven. The festival of Pasch held by Christians in post-apostolic times was a continuation of the Jewish feast, but was not instituted by Christ, nor was it connected with Lent. From this Pasch, the pagan festival of Easter was quite distinct and was introduced into the apostate Western religion, as part of the attempt to adapt Pagan festivals to Christianity.”
The earliest recorded observance of an Easter celebration comes from the 2nd century. THE AMERICAN BOOK OF DAYS describes the origin of Easter: “There is no doubt that the Church in its early days adopted the old pagan customs and gave a Christian meaning to them.” It is alarming that Christians would take the rituals of pagans and try to give them a Christian meaning. The practices of Easter, although seeming to be cute and childlike, are not innocent at all.
- The use of hares and rabbits are symbols of fertility “handed down from the ancient ceremonial and symbolism of European and Middle Eastern pagan spring festivals.” – Encyclopædia Britannica.
- The hunt for Easter eggs, supposedly brought by the Easter rabbit, “is not mere child’s play, but the vestige of a fertility rite.” Some cultures believed that the decorated Easter egg “could magically bring happiness, prosperity, health, and protection.” – Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend.
I think we see that the use of the word ‘Easter’ in the KJV Bible is not correct and therefore does not give us license to acknowledge or celebrate Easter. The celebration of Easter is clearly pagan in nature and practice.
To be scriptural, we should notice that the Lord Jesus does not ask us to remember His birth, neither does He ask us to remember His resurrection (both critical events in His life). However, the Lord does ask us to remember Him in His death. We read the Lord’s words in Luke 22:19-20, “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” The early church gathered together on the first day of the week to remember the Lord (Acts 20:7). Shouldn’t we, as believers, do the same? (CC) (500.2)