Ignorance is...

[andrewducker]

Apparently only 22% of people know that Easter is about Jesus.

At least, that's what the article says. If you look at the actual questions that got that result, it's clear that only 22% of the population _care_ about Jesus and his relationship with The Easter Bunny.

[Poll #1371630]

Comments

[johnbobshaun.livejournal.com]

I'm a bit hazy on the whole good/bad thing in this instance.

I think the level of ignorance of the pre-Christian origins of Easter as a festival is probably a bad thing though.

[lizzie-and-ari.livejournal.com]

I agree.

I'd be interested to know what those levels are, mind you.

Hmm, what about people who think that the holiday is to 'celebrate Spring'? Are they basically right, or ill informed because they don't know the history?

Hmmm

[sigmonster.livejournal.com]

They're right, of course. Did the Easter Bunny die in vain?

The purpose of the holiday is not a fixed thing, or in any way dependent on the contingencies of history; it's why it's re-performed now, this year. So every reason to celebrate is valid for that celebrant - unlike a question about "Why do we celebrate Easter on moveable dates as we do?", for which answers are historically bound and can be described as true ofr false.

[lizzie-and-ari.livejournal.com]

Yes but the fact that it is a public holiday has to have a reason, surely?

Maybe I'm just hung up because it's the only Bank Holiday we get! (except the December ones)

[sigmonster.livejournal.com]

Sure the holiday has a reason. The slow and opposed rise of the Victorian and Edwardian working class which eventually won the Factory Acts, other legislative relief, and the bank holidays. (Until 1871, there was a common-law holiday on Good Friday, but no statute law applied (taken from Wikipedia).)

[andrewducker]

You mean Passover then?

Or are you referring to Imbolc, which is traditionally a fair bit earlier?

If you're talking about Eostre then you're on very dodgy grounds, historically speaking...

[lizzie-and-ari.livejournal.com]

If you're talking about Eostre then you're on very dodgy grounds, historically speaking...
Why do you say that?

[andrewducker]

Because the only reference to it is a single sentence in Bede, dating from the ninth century. There's no information about Eostre other than that - nothing from any other scholars, the Romans, or anyone else. There's a lot of dubiety as to whether there's any accuracy to his original statement at all.

[lizzie-and-ari.livejournal.com]

To Ostara/Eostre/Aoestar/gdkjhehs or to the Spring Equinox?

[andrewducker]

Oestre

Ostara is definitely the German name for the same holiday - but its roots are similarly shrouded in mystery.

The Spring Equinox was undoubtedly celebrated a long time ago, but exactly how is lost in the mists.

[johnbobshaun.livejournal.com]

I was being unspecific deliberately. Insert your favorite Spring Equinox festival containing symbols of rebirth and fertility celebrating the passing of Winter here.

[andrewducker]

"Dr Who Day" - celebrating the end of the previous regeneration and the beginning of the new, or (in minor celebrations) the beginning of a new companion and the ending of the old.

I look forward to the glorious new episode this year, and its symbolising of the end of the old year and the regeneration of the new.

[robhu.livejournal.com]

ROFL

[johnbobshaun.livejournal.com]

Sure why not? In a thousand years, kids in silver space suits will be hunting for little blue boxes in their moon garden. ;-)