Easter, celebrated in many parts of the world
Easter, celebrated in many parts of the world, is also recognized as a spring festival, with rituals and traditions that mark the beginning of the season, regardless of its religious origins. The festival has its roots in ancient pagan practices, when different cultures held ceremonies to celebrate the renewal of life and the rebirth of nature. For these people, spring represented fertility, prosperity and new cycles of growth.
These celebrations, often linked to earth worship, included dancing, singing and celebrations around bonfires. The hare and eggs, traditional symbols of Easter, originate from pagan mythologies, with the hare associated with fertility and the egg representing rebirth and the continuity of life.
Over time, these traditions were incorporated into Christianity, but the spirit of the spring festival remained. Today, Easter is a celebration of renewal and family togetherness, with outdoor festivals and the tradition of egg hunts. The name "Easter" in English comes from the Germanic goddess Eostre, who was associated with fertility. When the Germanic and Celtic peoples converted to Christianity, the rituals dedicated to Eostre merged with the celebration of the resurrection of Christ, maintaining customs such as the exchange of decorated eggs.
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