Weekend Thread

Happy Easter weekend, to all those who celebrate!

FUN FACTS: The word Easter comes from the Old English Ēostre, which is derived from the proto-Germanic word Austrō, meaning “Dawn” (also accounting for the Greek Eos and Latin Aurora).  The image of Dawn evokes ideas of rebirth and a new beginning, thus explaining its association with Spring and the Christian doctrine of the Resurrection.  An English monk named Bede, who lived in the 8th century, claimed that the name also referred to a goddess named Ēostre who was celebrated at Eosturmonath, one of the months of the Anglo-Saxon calendar.  However, Bede’s account is the only evidence we have for this claim, and it is disputed by some historians. Most of the traditions we associate with Easter come from early pagan symbols of fertility, including bunnies and eggs.  Specifically, the egg symbolized the rebirth of the earth in pagan celebrations, and it was adopted by early Christians as a symbol of the rebirth of man. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.