I never grew up in a Christian household. Most of my family considered themselves to be Catholic and would at times follow Catholic traditions (and I would follow suit), but for the most part it was a title they used when convenient. I am the only re-born again Christian.
A few weeks a go, I noticed my Dad buying gifts and I didn’t question anything as I thought maybe someone’s birthday was coming up that I didn’t remember. However, this past weekend having dinner with my family, my Dad gave me ‘Easter Gifts’. I was kind of shocked? In retrospect I shouldn’t have been as that’s always been tradition in my family for the most part. We gave gifts on Easter. However now, being the most rooted in Christ that I have ever been, this gesture just threw me off a little bit. This isn't at all what Easter is about.
I reached out to our other writer here on Christian Halo and he went onto remind me how Paganism has really infiltrated Christian Holidays, steering us away from celebrating Christ into celebrating worldly things instead – such as gift giving and idolizing other symbols and holiday characters such as Santa and the Easter Bunny.
I did a little more digging and found that the name Easter actually derives from the name of an Ancient ‘Chaldean’ goddess with the Babylonian name ‘Ishtar’, and she was considered the goddess of love and fertility. The symbols that identified this goddess believe it or not, are rabbits and eggs! Worshipping this goddess was said to bring a blessing of fertility.
Unfortunately, some of the most basic things that are believed by professing Christians derive from ancient paganism and not from the Bible at all. I remember when Halloween came about last year and I noticed a lot of Christian mothers I follow on Instagram openly discuss how celebrating Halloween is not of Christ and some believed that if you do not knowingly idolize and you’re aware, it is harmless. You are not using it for evil, so what does it matter if your child gets dressed up and goes trick or treating?
That being said, what are your thoughts on celebrating Christian Holidays with keeping pagan traditions such as decorating a Christmas tree or having an Easter Egg hunt? Let us know!
