Episode 27 - Unpacking Easter: What You Never Learned About One of the World's Most Celebrated Holidays

WEBVTT

00:01:26.090 --> 00:01:33.560
<v Speaker>Welcome to Spirit Outspoken, where we dive deep into the realms of spirituality, healing, and the beautiful chaos we call life.

00:01:33.680 --> 00:01:38.960
<v Speaker 2>From ancient traditions to modern practices, we are going to explore it all.

00:01:39.409 --> 00:01:46.430
<v Speaker 2>Whether you're a newbie or a seasoned seeker, you're guaranteed to find something that inspires challenges and intrigues you here.

00:01:46.700 --> 00:01:48.079
<v Speaker 3>So grab your favorite beverage.

00:01:48.125 --> 00:01:51.935
<v Speaker 3>Find a cozy spot to curl up and join us for spirit outspoken.

00:01:56.983 --> 00:02:02.862
Hello everyone and welcome to a very special bonus episode of Spirit Outspoken.

00:02:03.343 --> 00:02:07.302
So before I kick things off, I am going to be real honest with you guys.

00:02:07.362 --> 00:02:12.793
It feels kind of weird around here today because it's just me, Rachel, doing the recording.

00:02:13.638 --> 00:02:16.337
Jasa is taking a much deserved break this week.

00:02:16.337 --> 00:02:25.968
She's had a lot on her plate with some family obligations and you know, one of the beautiful things of working in a partnership is that you can support each other when life gets busy.

00:02:26.358 --> 00:02:29.538
So I'm gonna give a little shout out to Jace back home.

00:02:29.538 --> 00:02:32.997
We are definitely gonna be excited to have you back next week.

00:02:33.247 --> 00:02:36.338
But in the meantime, I'm thrilled to be here with you guys today.

00:02:36.848 --> 00:02:37.268
Okay.

00:02:37.298 --> 00:02:53.707
So as I was doing the planning for today's episode, I was looking ahead on the calendar and being that this Sunday is Easter, I thought it could be kind of cool to take a closer look at this holiday that I assume a lot of us will be celebrating and really understand the history of it.

00:02:54.223 --> 00:03:03.343
As well as how some of these seemingly random icons like bunnies and eggs somehow became tied to the resurrection of Christ.

00:03:03.802 --> 00:03:13.492
So this is meant to be fun and informative so you can go into the weekend with a better understanding and appreciation for exactly what it is that you are celebrating and why.

00:03:13.853 --> 00:03:14.903
So let's get started.

00:03:15.687 --> 00:03:18.987
First of all, let's take a look at the name Easter.

00:03:19.048 --> 00:03:20.578
Where does the name come from?

00:03:20.968 --> 00:03:27.448
Now there's a very common, controversial answer to this question that if you Google it, it's probably going to pop up.

00:03:27.718 --> 00:03:34.168
So you may have heard that the word Easter comes from Esra, which is a Germanic goddess of spring and fertility.

00:03:34.557 --> 00:03:43.648
However, the only source throughout history that claims this is an Anglo-Saxon monk named, are you ready for this venerable?

00:03:43.908 --> 00:03:46.756
Not venereal venerable bead.

00:03:47.235 --> 00:03:53.235
And due to the lack of historical evidence around this, it remains unclear in a source of debate.

00:03:53.685 --> 00:04:02.656
However, we do know that Easter comes from a high German, plural word, east durum, which means dawn as in sun rising.

00:04:02.865 --> 00:04:09.286
And so the tie to this German word recognizes Easter as a holiday for mankind's new dawn.

00:04:10.185 --> 00:04:12.406
Now let's move on to some of the symbols, right?

00:04:12.466 --> 00:04:17.716
Eggs being one that we closely associate with the holiday, but where did that start from?

00:04:17.985 --> 00:04:20.175
Now when I looked into this, I thought it was pretty cool.

00:04:20.235 --> 00:04:39.826
So this dates back to the 12 hundreds where decorating eggs started with early Christians in Mesopotamia, So initially eggs were forbidden food during lent, so people would paint and decorate eggs to mark the end of this period of penance and fasting, and then eat them on Easter as a celebration.

00:04:39.946 --> 00:04:46.906
And this is really where we see that connection between receiving an egg on Easter morning and excitement and joy surrounding it.

00:04:46.906 --> 00:04:50.146
That was kind of the first tie and connection made between that.

00:04:50.536 --> 00:04:54.256
Now, obviously since that time, eggs have.

00:04:54.615 --> 00:04:57.136
Evolved in their connection to the holiday, right?

00:04:57.136 --> 00:05:00.555
So throughout history, we have a lot of significant things from that point on.

00:05:00.766 --> 00:05:12.435
In 1875, the first Cadbury egg was developed in 1878, president Hayes held the first Easter egg roll on the White House lawn, which is still an annual tradition today.

00:05:12.915 --> 00:05:17.386
And in 1881, it was discovered how to concentrate dye in tablet form.

00:05:17.475 --> 00:05:20.625
And thus, the first Easter egg dyeing kit was invented.

00:05:21.156 --> 00:05:27.036
Oh, and those jelly beans that you may or may not love became associated with Easter in the 1930s.

00:05:27.576 --> 00:05:30.935
Get this simply because they resembled the egg shape.

00:05:31.235 --> 00:05:32.076
That's all.

00:05:32.256 --> 00:05:34.026
That's why, there you go.

00:05:34.716 --> 00:05:38.555
Now around the world, people celebrate with different traditions around eggs.

00:05:38.615 --> 00:05:41.466
So here's just a few of the things that people are doing around the world.

00:05:42.255 --> 00:05:51.435
In Germany, it's customary for people to hang decorated eggs on small trees either in their homes or they might decorate a tree outside in their lawn or garden.

00:05:51.495 --> 00:05:57.473
And this is known as the Easter iron bomb or Easter egg tree in one French town.

00:05:57.473 --> 00:06:03.353
They even go so far as to make a giant omelet with 40 cooks and 15,000 eggs.

00:06:03.622 --> 00:06:18.173
To be honest, it looked a little disgusting, but you know, to each his own in my research, they also pointed out that in many cultures throughout the world, the egg is an international symbol of new life, often associated with birth and rebirth.

00:06:18.483 --> 00:06:26.212
To some Christians, the hard exterior of the egg represents the sealed tomb, and cracking the egg represents the resurrection.

00:06:27.022 --> 00:06:33.622
So now that we know about the eggs, right, what about the delivery process and how did this bunny get into the mix?

00:06:33.923 --> 00:06:36.592
Well, as it turns out, we have Germany to thank for that.

00:06:36.742 --> 00:06:39.112
Yes, thanks to our European friends.

00:06:39.142 --> 00:06:42.262
They gave us the Easter haa or Easter hair.

00:06:42.832 --> 00:06:54.142
This started in 1682 when a 16 page dissertation written by two German physicians, described hairs hiding baskets of brightly painted eggs for kids to find.

00:06:54.622 --> 00:07:02.353
Supposedly this tradition of hairs hiding eggs began a couple decades earlier in a story German Lutherans used to tell their kids.

00:07:02.892 --> 00:07:07.572
So of course when the Germans started to migrate to America, they brought this tradition to us.

00:07:07.572 --> 00:07:13.423
And by the 18 hundreds, this mythical HA was known in the United States as the Easter Bunny.

00:07:13.445 --> 00:07:20.045
So the Easter Bunny is common in the United States, Canada, England, Germany.

00:07:20.570 --> 00:07:27.591
Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Denmark, and New Zealand, but it is not universal.

00:07:27.830 --> 00:07:31.610
So in Italy, eggs are gifted by parents and grandparents.

00:07:31.670 --> 00:07:38.430
In Norway, there's an Easter chick who delivers the eggs, and according to French folklore in France, it is church bells.

00:07:38.790 --> 00:07:41.250
Yes, church bells that deliver the eggs.

00:07:41.610 --> 00:07:42.510
So here's the deal.

00:07:42.630 --> 00:07:48.510
On the Thursday before Easter, church bells in France, stop ringing as a mark of respect for Jesus' death.

00:07:48.841 --> 00:07:55.620
So to explain the silence of the bells to children, grownups tell kids that they have flown to Rome to be blessed by the pope.

00:07:56.010 --> 00:08:01.230
On the morning of Easter, the bells fly back to France loaded with treats that they drop into gardens.

00:08:01.615 --> 00:08:10.015
And once the bells are safely back in their steeples and start ringing again, that is a cue for kids everywhere to go out and begin looking for their treats and eggs.

00:08:10.705 --> 00:08:16.406
The funniest one I found is that in Australia, you guys, they have their very own Easter Bill Bee.

00:08:16.680 --> 00:08:22.711
Which is a small marsupial native to the country because rabbits are actually an invasive species there.

00:08:22.980 --> 00:08:24.450
And here's another fun fact.

00:08:24.450 --> 00:08:27.091
You know those hollowed chocolate bunnies you get every year?

00:08:27.330 --> 00:08:30.901
Do you know the story of why there's chocolate missing from the center?

00:08:31.350 --> 00:08:43.171
Apparently it all stems back to 1941 when there were rations on cocoa during the war, and now this is a tradition that has managed to stick And here's a couple more Easter traditions from around the globe.

00:08:43.201 --> 00:08:52.081
So in Germany, good Friday and Easter Monday are both public holidays and Holy Saturday is celebrated by lighting bonfires around sunset.

00:08:52.561 --> 00:09:02.581
This tradition known as Easter Fair dates back to Germanic tribes and is said to represent light in darkness as well as renewal of spring at the end of winter.

00:09:03.360 --> 00:09:14.221
Now my favorite one comes from Corfu Greece, where people celebrate Holy Saturday by throwing pots filled with water out of their windows and smashing them on the street.

00:09:14.610 --> 00:09:23.551
They love to smash things there, and I don't know what that's about, but my little fiery Sagittarius spirit likes it.

00:09:24.781 --> 00:09:35.671
This apparently comes from an ancient Greek tradition where they would throw out old planting pots each April and then plant new seeds in new pots to mark the coming of spring.

00:09:36.923 --> 00:09:40.673
Now let's move on and talk a little bit about the date of Easter, right?

00:09:40.702 --> 00:09:43.163
Because if you're like me, I'm always like, wait, what day is it?

00:09:43.163 --> 00:09:44.062
What Sunday is it?

00:09:44.062 --> 00:09:45.143
When is it this year?

00:09:45.353 --> 00:09:48.442
I mean, why can't it just be straightforward like Christmas?

00:09:48.562 --> 00:09:50.873
Well, believe it or not, there is a reason for that.

00:09:51.173 --> 00:09:58.793
So Easter is what we call a movable feast, simply meaning that it doesn't have a fixed date and it can move and change from year to year.

00:09:59.182 --> 00:10:00.083
So here is the.

00:10:00.638 --> 00:10:05.138
Calculation, if you will, on how we determine the date for Easter each and every year.

00:10:05.588 --> 00:10:16.057
Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox, which we have now officially declared as March 21st.

00:10:16.538 --> 00:10:21.938
So why is Easter celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon, after the spring equinox?

00:10:22.358 --> 00:10:28.628
And the short answer is that it's a way to preserve the connection between Easter and Passover.

00:10:29.003 --> 00:10:30.473
And so here's the full story.

00:10:31.133 --> 00:10:42.323
If you know the history, Jesus was crucified during the Jewish Festival of Passover, and the Hebrew calendar is lunar based, meaning it works off of the cycles of the moon.

00:10:42.653 --> 00:10:47.213
And so Passover is always celebrated the 15th of Nyson.

00:10:47.543 --> 00:10:52.133
Which is the night of a full moon in early spring, but that date can change.

00:10:52.373 --> 00:10:59.603
So early Christians wanted Easter to honor the timing of the resurrection and wanted it to stay connected to the Passover holiday.

00:11:00.052 --> 00:11:10.253
So before the fourth century, different Christian communities celebrated Easter at different times, some on the 14th of Ni, on the same day as Passover, others on the following Sunday.

00:11:10.283 --> 00:11:12.173
And this was creating some confusion.

00:11:12.188 --> 00:11:23.677
So eventually there was a Council of Christians called the Council of naia, who standardized this and actually made the statement determining when Easter would be and came up with our equation that we have now.

00:11:23.735 --> 00:11:27.966
It is also a time of year that's very symbolic spiritually, right?

00:11:28.026 --> 00:11:38.605
And so spring, as we know, is a time of renewal, a time of new beginnings, a time of hope, and new life spring, Equinox is a time where there's equal hours of day and night.

00:11:38.966 --> 00:11:43.076
And so there's this theme of balance, and again, of new beginnings.

00:11:43.206 --> 00:11:46.746
Full moons, traditionally market time of illumination and revelation.

00:11:46.866 --> 00:11:52.686
And the Sunday after the full moon celebrates life overcoming death and light, overcoming darkness.

00:11:52.746 --> 00:11:59.646
So there's a lot of reasons why people wanted this to not only stay connected to Passover, but also stay connected to the springtime.

00:11:59.719 --> 00:12:03.259
So now let's shift gears slightly and talk about Carnival.

00:12:03.949 --> 00:12:10.039
I was 43 years old when I learned that Mardi Gras is associated with lint.

00:12:10.579 --> 00:12:20.809
I'm sure many of you are like slapping your forehead right now, but up until this point, all I associated with Mardi Gras was boobs and beads, and those random.

00:12:21.634 --> 00:12:24.094
Tiny babies that they bake into their cakes.

00:12:24.274 --> 00:12:24.754
I don't know.

00:12:24.754 --> 00:12:30.004
It's all very bizarre to me and I have very little knowledge that is until now.

00:12:30.334 --> 00:12:31.294
So here's the scoop.

00:12:31.533 --> 00:12:37.324
The day before Lent begins, and remember, lent kicks off with Ash Wednesday the day before on a Tuesday.

00:12:37.354 --> 00:12:49.294
Many cultures host famous public festivals, and depending on where this is celebrated, it can be called anything from Strove Tuesday, carnival Tuesday, pancake Tuesday, or Mardi Gras, which of course in French.

00:12:49.549 --> 00:12:50.719
Means Fat Tuesday.

00:12:51.139 --> 00:12:57.439
So Mardi Gras in the US and it's called Carnival in the Caribbean, came here from the French settlers.

00:12:57.528 --> 00:13:07.369
And both celebrations are characterized by masks, parades, music, this blending of ethnic traditions and just a celebration of freedom and indulgence.

00:13:07.639 --> 00:13:10.879
And in midieval culture, it was the one time of year.

00:13:11.079 --> 00:13:12.939
That the church allowed revelry.

00:13:13.059 --> 00:13:19.929
And so consider it almost like this one wild hurrah before we all have to buckle down for Lent and behave.

00:13:20.349 --> 00:13:24.579
So wherever it's celebrated, it always ends on Ash Wednesday.

00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:26.679
And here's another little fun fact for you.

00:13:26.679 --> 00:13:37.239
In 1703 French settlers celebrated the first Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama, and they still claim to have the oldest Mardi Gras celebration in the us.

00:13:37.389 --> 00:13:39.309
So take that New Orleans.

00:13:39.645 --> 00:13:48.495
All right, so we've talked about a lot of different things regarding Easter, where the name came from, some of the symbolism associated with the holiday, why it falls on these various dates.

00:13:48.975 --> 00:13:51.375
Let's take a closer look at Holy Week itself.

00:13:51.550 --> 00:14:02.950
Which these are the days leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, because as someone whose entire upbringing was spent in the church, there were still new things I learned as I did my research.

00:14:04.060 --> 00:14:09.340
So Holy Week kicks off on Palm Sunday, which celebrates Jesus's arrival into Jerusalem.

00:14:09.940 --> 00:14:18.400
As he neared the village of Beth Fudgey on the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples ahead telling them to find him a donkey and its unwritten cult.

00:14:19.180 --> 00:14:23.800
This incident was the fulfillment of the prophecy written in Zacharia 500 years earlier.

00:14:24.191 --> 00:14:37.831
People in Jerusalem welcome Jesus by spreading their cloaks and palm branches on the road before him this act of spreading palm branches was a sign of respect and victory, showing how the people saw Jesus as a king, although he was a different kind of king than they expected.

00:14:38.641 --> 00:14:40.021
So here's a fun fact.

00:14:40.316 --> 00:14:41.725
This is something new that I learned.

00:14:41.996 --> 00:14:53.006
The Greek term used for the word branches in the Bible became the word palm in some translations, which perpetuated this image of the very specific palms that come to mind today.

00:14:53.456 --> 00:15:01.166
However, the closest palm trees near Jerusalem in the first century were actually in Jericho, which was almost 16 miles away.

00:15:01.526 --> 00:15:06.656
So these original branches were probably not palm branches, but the images just stuck.

00:15:07.466 --> 00:15:10.346
So some additional points of significance about Palm Sunday.

00:15:11.516 --> 00:15:12.686
By riding on a donkey.

00:15:12.735 --> 00:15:18.766
Jesus symbolized peace contrasting the war horses that kings would traditionally ride into Concord cities.

00:15:19.186 --> 00:15:24.616
This act was a clear message that his kingdom was not of this world, but rather a spiritual one.

00:15:25.291 --> 00:15:27.391
Palm Sunday teaches us about humility.

00:15:27.541 --> 00:15:31.411
Jesus chose a donkey for his entry, not a chariot or a stallion.

00:15:31.771 --> 00:15:36.181
This choice reflects his humble nature and his approach to leadership and service.

00:15:36.301 --> 00:15:41.100
Jesus's example teaches us the value of humility in our lives and the importance of serving others.

00:15:41.730 --> 00:15:46.171
Palm Sunday challenges us to recognize and embrace the true kingship of Jesus.

00:15:46.261 --> 00:15:49.741
It invites us to reflect on our expectations of leadership and power.

00:15:50.176 --> 00:15:55.126
Jesus's example shows us that true leadership is about serving others, not dominating them.

00:15:55.605 --> 00:16:01.846
Again, Palm Sunday was the event that put into action the series of events that led to Christ's crucifixion and resurrection.

00:16:02.235 --> 00:16:06.735
So for Christians, by remembering Palm Sunday, they're preparing their hearts for Easter.

00:16:07.126 --> 00:16:11.896
This week is a time to reflect on Jesus' journey, his sacrifices and his teachings.

00:16:12.136 --> 00:16:16.876
It's a time for prayer, reflection, and drawing closer to the essence of our faith.

00:16:18.631 --> 00:16:20.551
Next we move on to Mondy Thursday.

00:16:20.668 --> 00:16:23.908
This is the Thursday before Easter and the night of the Last Supper.

00:16:24.238 --> 00:16:28.258
This is the Passover meal that Jesus enjoyed with his disciples in the upper room.

00:16:29.068 --> 00:16:36.177
The word mondi comes from the Latin word command and refers to the two commands that Jesus gave his disciples during their last night together.

00:16:36.807 --> 00:16:42.418
The first command was the communion ritual, where Jesus breaks the bread, tells his disciples to take and eat.

00:16:42.443 --> 00:16:44.273
This is my body broken for you.

00:16:44.543 --> 00:16:48.052
He then takes the wine and says, this is my blood shed for you.

00:16:48.233 --> 00:16:51.052
He instructs them to do this in remembrance of him.

00:16:51.863 --> 00:16:54.203
The second command was to love one another.

00:16:54.503 --> 00:17:03.833
In John 1334, he says, A new commandment I give you, love one another as I have loved you, so you also must love one another.

00:17:04.633 --> 00:17:09.702
After the meal, Jesus goes to the garden of Yosemite and prays earnestly to God in the garden.

00:17:10.452 --> 00:17:16.093
This is where Judas, his own disciple betrays him by leading the authorities to Jesus for his arrest.

00:17:16.277 --> 00:17:17.777
Next, we have Good Friday.

00:17:18.211 --> 00:17:25.007
Good Friday is the day that Jesus was crucified, leading many people to ask the question, why the Good Friday?

00:17:25.517 --> 00:17:29.386
Well, traditionally, any days observed as holy by the Church were called good.

00:17:29.866 --> 00:17:30.317
Thus, why?

00:17:30.317 --> 00:17:40.666
The Friday before Easter became known as Good Friday after being sentenced to death by Pontius Pilate, Jesus was mocked, beaten, and humiliated, and eventually nailed to a cross and crucified.

00:17:41.297 --> 00:17:48.706
This is a significant moment in Christian history as it is believed to be the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah written over 500 years before.

00:17:49.487 --> 00:17:56.176
After Christ's crucifixion comes Holy Saturday, which refers to the day between Christ's crucifixion and Easter Sunday.

00:17:57.152 --> 00:18:00.182
It is the burial of Christ and his descent into Hades.

00:18:01.021 --> 00:18:06.632
Certain Christian denominations such as Eastern Orthodox, commemorate Holy Saturday with a traditional service.

00:18:07.051 --> 00:18:15.422
The focus is on the tomb of Christ, not as a place of corruption, decay, and defeat, but as a life-giving source of power, victory, and liberation.

00:18:16.471 --> 00:18:26.432
This leads us in to the culmination of Holy Week, which ends with Easter Sunday, which commemorates Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead three days after his crucifixion.

00:18:27.211 --> 00:18:32.582
Easter Sunday is important to Christianity because it represents Jesus' victory over death and sin.

00:18:32.971 --> 00:18:39.902
It validates his divinity and his declarations of being God, and it gives hope of eternal life to all believers.

00:18:40.622 --> 00:18:44.072
This event marks the joyful conclusion to the Lenin season.

00:18:44.255 --> 00:18:54.755
according to the New Testament, Jesus spent 40 days on earth after his resurrection, engaging with his disciples and providing essential teachings that would lay the groundwork for the early Christian Church.

00:18:55.414 --> 00:19:03.375
Before ascending to heaven, Jesus led his disciples to the Mount of Olives and commission them to be his witness in Jerusalem, Judea, and to the end of the earth.

00:19:04.424 --> 00:19:10.605
According to the Poe Research Center, Christianity is the only religion in the world with a major presence on every continent.

00:19:11.265 --> 00:19:13.845
I guess you could say that the disciples did their job.

00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:17.870
So in closing, I hope you guys learned as much as I did.

00:19:17.870 --> 00:19:24.896
I was absolutely fascinated at how much I didn't know about this holiday that I've been celebrating for 43 years.

00:19:25.672 --> 00:19:27.622
I wanted to leave you with one more thing to ponder.

00:19:28.042 --> 00:19:37.792
I heard this in a documentary I watched and it has stuck with me, and that is, regardless of whether you are a Christian or not, the impact Christianity has had on the world is immense.

00:19:38.241 --> 00:19:42.142
A lot has happened since the original Holy Week, more than 2000 years ago.

00:19:42.501 --> 00:19:53.152
But if the greatest events affect the greatest number of people for the longest amount of time, then by this standard, nothing else has been more impactful than the life.

00:19:53.167 --> 00:20:04.442
Death and resurrection of Jesus Whether you celebrate Easter Passover or simply welcome this season as a time of renewal and rebirth, I just wanna thank you for sharing a little space with me today.

00:20:04.727 --> 00:20:11.657
Easter and Spring are such powerful reminders that after every season of stillness, something new and beautiful begins to bloom.

00:20:11.866 --> 00:20:14.717
So wherever you are and however you're honoring this time.

00:20:15.241 --> 00:20:19.562
May this season bring you peace, clarity, connection, and joy.

00:20:20.067 --> 00:20:20.938
Happy Easter.

00:20:21.268 --> 00:20:24.898
Happy spring and blessings for a beautiful holiday season.

00:20:25.438 --> 00:20:26.128
Until next time.

00:20:27.203 --> 00:20:29.094
Thanks for joining us for today's episode.

00:20:29.213 --> 00:20:35.514
If you are ready to take your spirituality to the next level, be sure to check out our website, spirit outspoken.com.

00:20:35.963 --> 00:20:42.984
There you can download free educational resources, read our latest blog posts, and join the spirit outspoken community.

00:20:43.584 --> 00:20:44.334
And don't forget

00:20:44.334 --> 00:20:53.874
<v Speaker 5>to follow us on Instagram and TikTok at Spirit Outspoken to say up to date on news happenings, shenanigans, and all things spirit outspoken.