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Rebirth in the Mediterranean Most of the pagan societies that settled in the Mediterranean region had a major religious celebration at or following shortly after the spring equinox. A common theme of these spring religious festivals was a god whose own death and rebirth symbolized the death and regeneration of life during this time of year. There are stories of a few gods in pagan religions who were believed to have died only to be reborn. For example, the Phrygian fertility goddess, Cybele, had a consort named Attis. (Phrygia was located within the triangle formed by the modern cities of Afyon, Eskisehir, and Ankara, the capital of modern Turkey.) Attis was believed to have been born of a virgin, and several religious historians believe that the Christian legends of death and resurrection were first associated with him. The ancient Christians, on the other hand, claimed that Satan had created counterfeit, or false, deities to preempt the debut of Jesus and to confuse humanity. Modern-day Christians, those who know of it, regard the Attis legend as merely a pagan myth. They believe the account of Jesus’ death and Resurrection and do not accept the idea that it might be related to the earlier tradition. The Arrival of Christianity With the arrival of Christianity, sweeping changes took place in these ancient spring rites and ceremonies, first within cultures located along the Mediterranean and later through the lands of Europe. In order to promote Christianity as the only religion, early church leaders banned all pagan rites and ceremonies. But these rituals had been a way of life for thousands of years, and people did not easily give them up. So the Christian Church adapted, attaching Christian meanings to the old pagan rituals and festivals. Christian Easter

The Crucifixion of Jesus took place on what is now called Good Friday. In the early morning of the third day after his Crucifixion, which happened to be Sunday, some women disciples of Jesus went to the cave (tomb) where his body had been laid. They learned that Jesus had been resurrected, or raised from the tomb. Grief turned into celebration following this amazing occurrence.

Easter and the Moon Even today, nature guides church planning. Christians celebrate Easter on the first Sunday after the first full Moon of spring.

Origins and Celebrations of Easter n

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