The term “Easter” is derived from the Old Saxon name for the month of April, which itself was named after the goddess Eostre, as noted by the monk Bede. However, the celebration of Easter in Christianity is not rooted in pagan origins but is directly related to Passover, which is why it’s called Pesach or Pashca in almost every language outside of Western Europe. The name “Easter” and some traditions associated with it, such as the Easter bunny and eggs, have been influenced by pre-Christian spring festivals that celebrated the spring equinox. These pagan festivals marked the rebirth and renewal of nature after winter, a concept that aligns with the Christian celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
According to various sources, the name Easter has its origin with a goddess of the Anglo-Saxons named Eostre (also Estre, Estara, Eastre, Ostara, and similar spellings in various sources). It is believed that she is the goddess of the dawn and was worshipped in the spring by pagans in Northern Europe and the British Isles. In The Two Babylons, Alexander Hislop claimed Eostre is actually a name derived from the Babylonian goddess Astarte. Hislop extended this connection to include goddesses from around the world: Ishtar, Ashtoreth, Venus, and others. In fact, Hislop argued that all of the systems of gods and goddesses find their origin with Nimrod and his wife Semiramis at the Tower of Babel. Thus, every primary god is a figure of Nimrod, and every primary goddess is a figure of Semiramis.
