#Greek Easter candles

[antikristvs]

Ave Satanas, Lucifer!

[kayl3ighsunflower]

.

[liefst]

vasilopita cake (greek st basil's / new year's cake) that my friend made. we found the coin in the very first slice, the one dedicated to kronos / time, which according to my friend's greek bf means good luck for the whole new year in general 🌟

[uglygirlstatus]

wait are you greek? :O

understandable assumption from my earlier tags but I am not haha. I am vaguely Russian and was brought to Russian Orthodox Church as a kid (internalized none of it as I do not speak the language well and didn’t know what anyone was saying. I do not know why my mom bothered to bring us). But by the time I was like 10 we had mostly given up and were just attending annual late night Easter service at a Greek Church on the invitation of our family friends because at least then we got to go to their house afterwards and eat cold cuts at 3am. And that is what I am still doing every year to this day

[wingsofhcpe]

Star Trek: La Sirena Fam & what each of them would do during Greek Eastern Orthodox Easter!

Picard: he's the perfect age to go all-out greek grandfather, tbh. Gets super excited to organise a big feast on Easter Sunday, wants to live it to the fullest, plans to do the whole "roasting an entire lamb for half a day" routine.

Raffi: has no idea what all the fuss is about but hey, there's food, wine and good fun, so why not. she doesn't care but gets EXTREMELY competitive with the egg-cracking, keeps slamming her egg into everyone else's and trying to wine through brute force, ignoring the fact that there's an ✨️art✨️ to the sport.

Rios: "I'm too old for this shit", absolutely doesn't want to partake in the festivities but ends up getting roped in by Picard and made to help with roasting the lamb. At the end of the day he can be found sitting to the side and eating tsoureki (as he should). Also probably gets shitfaced before half the day is done, ends up trying to dance. There's video. Shh, don't tell him.

Agnes: loves the fireworks of Resurrection Night! Loves the candles and the lanterns!! Loves the food and drink! She's so excited to experience something new and learn about a culture she's not familiar with, she's the one taking photos of everyone, she even tried to dye the eggs herself (with a little help from Stewart; it worked!). Definitely drags a very sulky Rios out so they can watch the fireworks together and feel all romantic and sappy (he complains, but of course he secretly loves it).

Seven: crowned winner of the egg-cracking competition, Raffi is SO salty about it. Also a tsoureki fan, ends up stuffing her face with it at breakfast and doesn't want to eat anything else for the rest of the day. Started watching Jesus of Nazareth every afternoon during the week just out of boredom because Elnor and Soji tuned in, is now very invested in it, also lowkey isn't sure the kids should be watching it. Especially Elnor.

Elnor: super disturbed by how bloody, brutal and visceral some of those traditions and cultural details are, tbh. ("What do you mean Jesus died?? Again? I thought it only happened once. Ooh, he's coming back? I see... wait- why are we following his tomb around the neighbourhood? Why are the old men chanting??"). Very invested into watching Jesus of Nazareth, though Soji has to very gently explain to him that that's not Actually Jesus, just an actor (he's shocked).

Soji: very excited to learn about a new culture ! Wants to try everything, from the food to the eggs to reading up all the little tidbits, fun facts and regional traditions she can get her hands on. Wants to help Picard and the holo squad prep the food, set up the table, etc. Feels like she's part of a family celebration for the literal first time in her life!

The holos pop up at random inrervals: Emil makes sure everyone stays hydrated and that nobody accidentally sets anything (or anyone) on fire. Enoch is in charge of the music (oh, so many corny traditional greek songs... meanwhile nobody in there speaks greek). Emmet is supposed to help in the kitchen but just falls asleep, and Ian is helping Agnes take the most embarrassing (and adorable) photos of a drunk Rios & Seven

[special dedication of this post to @coffee-in-that-nebula because i feel like we're the only greek ST:P/La Sirena stans around 😂]

[celiaamara]

How I Incorporated the Greek Gods into the Wheel of the Year - Neopagan

Welcome back to my page. Today I'll be discussing how I embraced neopaganism and revivalism to create my own Pagan path. This was really difficult for me to do but I'll link and write as much as I can to tell you how I got where I got.

Sources

Holidays, Dieties, etc. Notes from Book of Shadows

What is Imbolc?

Celebrated either Feb 1st or 2nd -> marks the halfway point between winter solstice and spring equinox -> marks beginning of spring -> pagan fire festival -> time to honor fertility -> associated with pregnancy and cleaning

How to celebrate

-> light candles in every room

-> plants seeds

-> bake oatcakes

-> make Brigid dollies or crosses

-> decorate altar with symbols and colors for imbolc

Gods to worship (only Greek ones)

-> Aphrodite

-> Athena

-> Hestia

What is Ostara?

Marks the beginning of spring -> March 19-23 -> good time to literally and figuratively plant seeds for the future -> good time to start new goals and ideas you thought about on yule and imbolc -> good time for spring cleaning

Ways to Celebrate

-> spring clean the house

-> decorate altar with ostara colors and symbols

-> take time to meditate and journal and think about your intentions for the next few weeks

Gods to Worship

-> Aphrodite

-> Athena

-> Persphenone

-> Apollo

What is Beltane?

Mark of returning summer -> may 1st -> lighting of bon fires -> time of courtship rituals and celebration of one's fertility -> about casting out darkness and introducing light to the world

Dieties of Beltane

-> Artemis

-> Hera

-> Aphrodite

-> Apollo

What is Litha?

Marks summer solstice -> between June 19-22 -> believed to be where fairy folk come out at twilight and offer blessings -> time to celebrate the abundance and beauty of Mother Earth

Time to acknowledge your success thus far that you've built over the course of the wheel of the year -> good time to align yourself with the powerful energies of the sun and summertime -> expand on ideas, businesses, goals or desires -> thank all for successes so far

Ways to Celebrate

-> make floral wreaths for front door

-> host a bonfire and potluck for family and friends

-> gather and dry herbs to use throughout the coming year

-> take time to meditate and give thanks for the blessings you have in life

-> build a fairy house in the woods

Dieties

-> Hestia

-> Apollo

What is Lughnasadh and Lammas?

The first of three autumn celebrations -> August 1 -> marks the first harvest of the season w/ gathering grains and baking bread

Ways to Celebrate

-> bake bread from scratch and incorporate seasonal herbs

-> make fruit preserves

-> make beer or enjoy artisan beer

-> make corn dollies

-> host a family and/or friends dinner and bonfire

Dieties

-> Demeter

What is Mabon?

Known as the pagan Thanksgiving -> marks autumn equinox -> a time of balance, equality and harmony -> celebrates the second harvest -> celebrate and give thanks for the abundance both literally and spiritually -> good time to reflect on the wheel of the year, recognize successes and letting go of things that no longer serve you over the year -> set intentions to end bad things in your life, let go of unhealthy relationships, unhealthy habits, or self destructive beliefs -> Sept 21 to the 24

How to Celebrate

-> decorating home with fall decorations

-> host a huge meal if you can - take turns saying what you're grateful for and what you hope to accomplish this year

-> if it's by yourself, try and find a quiet space outside to meditate and journal before treating yourself to a nice meal

Dieties

-> Perspehone

-> Demeter

-> Hermes

-> Dionysus

What is Samhain?

3rd and final fall festival of the year -> witches new year -> veil between the worlds is the thinnest -> Oct 31 -> celebrate the dead, while celebrating the end of the harvest and comeback of the darkness and cold

How to Celebrate

-> leave offerings out for fae folk

-> do protective magic

-> feasts and suppers on the eve of Samhain

-> celebrate ancestors and embrace the passage into a more introspective season

-> cover clocks

-> carry nails in pocket for protection

Dieties

-> Hekate

-> Demeter

-> Perspehone

-> Hades

-> Dionysus

What is Yule?

Celebrates winter solstice - is one of two solstices - summer and winter -> Dec 20-23 -> celbrates shortest day of the year, midwinter, return of the sun and festival of rebirth -> time of reflection and celebration

How to Celebrate

-> give mistletoe

-> light lights on a yule log

-> have a feast, ale involved

-> wreaths

-> think about resolutions, intentions for the coming year, light a candle speaking those out, let it burn as you visualize it coming true, then write down actionable steps to get your wishes to come true

-> clean

Dieties

-> Aphrodite

-> Demeter

-> Helios

-> Dionysus

[art-is-art-is-art]

One of my fond memories is of the day when I was 10 years old and I was with my mother at Cyprus, and at Easter we were given free cookies and the Paschal greeting at the bakery because the Greeks and Russians are both Orthodox and we celebrate Easter on the same day. And we were also at a festive service, where priests read prayers and sang in Greek and people passed a candle to each other. It was beautiful. Then we were returning to the hotel, there were fireworks in the sky and a strong wind was blowing from the sea, I was cold, sleepy and happy

[mystiquecatt]

My candle burnt out 5 times during the Greek Easter ceremony and hot wax had been dripping all over me 😭I gotta make it home with this thing

[bodhimcbodeface]

If uncle Jesse was Greek then the girls were also Greek so why does it mostly just get treated like a part of his heritage and not theirs?Why isn’t uncle Jesse sending DJ to Greek school and showing her how to make pretty little Easter candles?

[galerymod]

Why Easter bunnies for Easter and not another animal?

Over the centuries, many symbols have become established around Easter, such as the rabbit and the egg. The latter has many different meanings, some of which have been transferred to the Christian celebration of Easter.

Chicken eggs, goose eggs, chocolate eggs or porcelain eggs - the Easter egg comes in all kinds of colours and shapes. The best-known custom at Easter is to give and eat eggs.

The egg - a symbol of life - has many different meanings, some of which have been transferred to the Christian Easter celebrations. As early as the 4th century, eggs were grave goods in Roman-Germanic tombs. Even in early Christian times, the egg was seen as a symbol of resurrection. Like a grave, it holds life locked inside - here the relationship to the resurrection of Christ becomes clear.

The custom of giving eggs as gifts has various origins. Eggs were not allowed to be eaten during Lent - but it was difficult to stop the hens from continuing to lay eggs. The surplus therefore had to be preserved. The eggs were boiled and plant parts were added to the boiling water for colouring. This made it possible to distinguish the boiled eggs from the raw eggs. Since the 13th century, the traditional colour for Easter eggs has been red - as the colour of life, joy and also as a symbol of the blood of Christ.

The egg hunt has been going on since the 19th century

Today, there are many different techniques for decorating eggs. Eggs can be coloured with vegetable or tinting dyes, for example.

Chocolate eggs are particularly popular with children because of their colourful packaging and sweet contents.

These are hidden on Easter morning by the Easter bunny - or so the children are told. The Easter egg hunt has been a custom since the 19th century. This is a child-orientated way of celebrating the festival.

Fun facts Another custom is the coin toss: If the coin gets stuck in the egg, the egg belongs to the thrower. Egg tossing, or ditschen, is particularly popular in southern Germany: The person whose egg remains whole when tossed gets both eggs.

The Easter bonfire

The Easter bonfire is lit and consecrated in front of the church on Easter night, shortly before the start of the Easter liturgy. The Easter candle is lit at this fire and then carried into the dark church. The "Lumen Christi" (Light of Christ) is sung three times. In many communities, especially in rural areas, Easter fires are lit. Wood is collected for this throughout the winter. On the eve of Easter Sunday, people get together as soon as it gets dark and light the pile of wood.

Even in pre-Christian times, it was customary to light fires. It was a way of welcoming the sun in spring. Christian Easter fires first appeared in France around 750. They have been known in German-speaking countries since the 11th century.

Symbolic animal for Easter: Bunny

Why the hare of all animals came to symbolise Easter and is considered the bearer of Easter eggs is unclear. According to one theory, the Easter bunny is an Easter lamb gone wrong: Bakers moulded an Easter lamb out of dough, but it then looked more like a rabbit.

In Greek mythology, the hare is the animal of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, and like the egg, it is a symbol of life and fertility. Some also see it as a symbol of life because of its prolific reproduction. In Byzantium, the hare symbolised Christ, the Risen One. The hare has no eyelids, so it never "sleeps" - like Christ, who never falls asleep. The date of Easter also has a connection to the hare: The hare is considered a lunar animal, and Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday of the spring full moon.

[dazfashionz]

Greece 🇬🇷

Traditions

Name day celebration

Most Greeks are named after a religious saint. A very important tradition is that everyone who has a name coming from a saint celebrated by the church celebrates his name on a given day of the year. On the "name day" of someone, his friends and family visit him without invitation and offer wishes and small presents

The hostess of the house offers pastries, sweets and hors d'oeuvres to the guests. In Greece, name days are more important than birthdays.

Engagements

It is a custom in Greece to get engaged before getting married. The man has to ask for the hand of the woman from her father and close family, while the two families give presents to the bride and groom. The couple exchanges wedding rings that are worn on the left hand. After the wedding, these rings will be worn on the right hand.

Carnival

In Greece the carnival is called Apokries. The festival consists of two weeks of the feast, beginning from the Sunday of Meat Fare and ends with the first day of the Lent, called Clean Monday.

Everyone is costumed and parties take place in the streets and bars, throwing colored confetti to each other. The most famous Carnival Parade takes place in the city of Patra

The Carnival is believed to come from paganism, and more precisely from the old festivities worshipping Dionysus, the god of wine and feast.

Easter

During the night of the Holy Saturday (Megalo Savato), everybody dresses well and goes to the church where a ceremony is held. Just before midnight, all of the lights of the church are turned off, symbolizing the darkness and silent of the tomb, while the priest lights a candle from the Eternal Flame, sings the psalm Christos Anesti (meaning Christ has risen) and offers the flame to light the candles of the people. Everyone passes the flame one to another. The bells ring continuously and people throw fireworks.

The Ohi Days

On October 28th, the Greeks celebrate the day when the Greek dictator Metaxas refused to let the Italians invaded the country during World War II. It is the celebration of the heroic OXI. Most Greeks put a Greek flag on their windows and balconies, while a parade takes place with the participation of school students and the army.

The Greek traditional belief of the evil eye dates back to at least the 6th century BC, the Classical Antiquity, or the time period that encompassed the Classical Era in Ancient Greece, when it commonly appeared on drinking vessels. During this time, the Greek civilization was at its intellectual peak.

A common theme in literature at the time was that the eyes were a source of deadly rays that could bring harm to others.

The Light Blue: Color of the sky – symbolizes truth and therefore it provides direct protection against the evil eye, while the dark blue color symbolizes water as it is an universal solvent.

The evil eye is the belief that someone can catch the evil eye curse or Matiasma from someone else’s jealous compliment or envy. If a person has caught the evil eye they will usually feel bad physically or mentally. Or in simple terms bad things happen.

When babies are born, Greeks will have a blue eye pinned at the top of the pillow from the moment they are born. And if you come down with sudden horrible headaches, weakness or illness but you can’t find logical explanation for your strange state, Greeks will say you have been evil eyed or (Matiasmenos). Meaning the eye have been placed upon you.

Anther tradition greek do when they celebrate is smashing plates on the ground.

Whether this is at a wedding, traverna,baptism or an intimate party smashing plates aren’t done on accident.

Breaking plates is done purposely, accompanied by music, in celebration, and you will often hear the word “Opa!” expressed with great joie de vivre when it happens.

Smashing plates became well known and normalized to people outside of Greece following the debut of the 1960 film “Never On Sunday.” There is a scene that shows the main characters in a raucous moment of really having a good time as glasses drop and smash on the floor during a dance.

In symbolic ritual, a plate is smashed at the graveside of the departed following a Greek Orthodox funeral. Life has ended on earth. The plate is smashed, signifying the end of life. Smashing the plate is also considered an act of mourning.

Smashing plates is done in joy as well as to mourn. It was once believed that a celebration could draw the attention of some bad energy, or even worse, some nasty spirits. 

Historical places

The Hellenistic period spanned for more than 16,000 years from the 12th century BC to around 600 AD, giving the world philosophy, mathematics, medicine, and much more. Comprising a loose collection of city states related by a common language and culture, it gave birth to the Minoan, Mycenean and Macedonian empires and spread knowledge far and wide across the Eurasian region.

Acropolis, Athens

Built in the fifth century BC and dedicated to Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom, Acropolis is the most important site to see when visiting Athens. Its iconic Parthenon temple possibly the most recognizable ancient site in the world sits high on a hill in the center of the city and glimpses of its majesty can be seen from any location.

The Greek landmark is home to a number of significant ruins, including the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and the Propylaea, the site’s monumental gateway.

One of the best museums in Europe, the Acropolis Museum sits in the foothills of the Acropolis itself. The museum tells the incredible story of this iconic site and poignantly has spaces left empty in the hope the controversial Elgin Marbles will one day be returned by the British Museum in London.

Knossos, Crete

Spreading over some six square miles and occupied since the neolithic era, Knossos in Crete is not only the most expansive Bronze Age site in Greece, but is also thought to be the oldest city in Europe

The main site takes in the vast palace dating from around 2000 BC that provided the epicenter of the Minoan Civilization and covers around five acres. At the time, it provided an incredible show of wealth for an empire that stretched to Athens and beyond.

The palace’s layout may well be the inspiration for one of the most enduring myths that Greece is known for, the legend of the Minotaur, a fierce beast to which seven Athenian boys and girls were sacrificed each year until it was vanquished by the Athenian hero Theseus.

Temple of Poseidon, Sounio

On the southern tip of the Athenian Peninsula, some 30 miles from the city center, the Temple of Poseidon stands on a hill, overlooking the sparkling Aegean Sea. The temple dates from around 400 BC, though others are thought to have preceded the current structure on the same site.

Dedicated to the God of the Sea, Storms and Earthquakes, it, too, plays a role in the story of the Minotaur. Theseus’ father, the Athenian King Aegeus, waited for the return of his son’s boat from Crete, expecting to see white sails if Theseus had defeated the minotaur, and black if he had perished on his quest.

Greek patterns

Greek key, referred to as meander, is in its most basic form a linear pattern. The design is made up of a long, continuous line that repeatedly folds back on itself, mimicking the ancient Maeander River of Asia Minor with its many twists and turns.

Homer mentions the river in “The Iliad,” and it is believed that the meander motif symbolizes infinity or the eternal flow of things. In fact, the word “meander” is derived from the ­250-mile-long snaking Maeander, known today as the Menderes, which flows through southwestern Turkey.

But it’s the Greeks who used the motif with abandon, hence the reason we most commonly refer to it as the Greek key. The Romans then copied it, and by the 18th century, all of Europe had adapted it into their design vocabulary.

these terms are modern designations even though the decorative motif appears thousands of years before that culture, thousands of miles away from Greece, and among cultures that are continents away from it.

Meanders anew common decorative elements in Greek and Roman art. In Ancient Greek they appear in many architectural friezes and in bands of the pottery of Ancient Greece from the geometric period.

[shopseranobakery]

Sacred Celebrations: Online Religious Themed Girl Lambatha

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What sets the Online Religious Themed Girl Lambatha from Serano Bakery apart is the seamless integration of tradition with the modern convenience of online ordering. In the digital age, where connections are often forged across distances, the ability to procure a meticulously crafted Lambatha online brings the essence of cultural traditions to a global audience.

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[romanticly-yours]

Ok so in Greek Orthodox we stay up till midnight the day before Easter and go to church to light of candles with the holy fire, at midnight they do like a sermon and say xristos Anesti (we say it to eachother like how people say happy new year but it means Christ has risen but it’s also kinda like happy Easter I think, it doesn’t mean that but like you know)

This was my Facebook and Instagram post for Easter this year

It says Christ has risen

[ultrajustjo]

Week 5: Visio divina

Spanish Paschal Candlestick Contemplation

The sun is finally out, but Greek class beckons, which means I'm stuck indoors for a few more hours. Before I idoú the logos, let me offer this contemplation on the candlestick and Matthew 8.

15th-Century Spanish Paschal Candlestick at The Cloisters, New York City. Photo taken Autumn 2022.

Recap

Our reading is from Matthew 8 where Jesus encounters demons and sends them into nearby pigs, who run and drown themselves. What happens when demons speak to you, you Ghostbuster them, and they run away and die thereby causing damage to the local economy? You get asked to leave. It's tough being God. Any parent who's ever cared for a beloved but immature and ungrateful child can relate to this story. Here it is in proper form using the NIV:

28 When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”

30 Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”

32 He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. 33 Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.

Observations

Jesus was just traveling, but he couldn't get past the two tortured men who were violent. The demons engaged with him; they were not sought out by Jesus. Without any action on Jesus's part (as relayed in Matthew), the miserable spirits begged Jesus for mercy and Jesus obliged. The demons used their inherent violence once within the pigs. No humans were physically harmed, while two were released from bondage -- all with Jesus's one word, "Go."

How is it that demons recognized the nature of Jesus but his friends, family, and disciples did not?

The town's rejection of Jesus foreshadows humanity's rejection of Jesus on the cross.

How does this story of God's power exhibited through Christ influence your observations of the Spanish Paschal Candlestick?

Consider the tiers of the candlestick: The largest, lower tier features panels of disciples; the second tier, smaller in diameter with fewer panels, features a handful of saints who were probably significant to that Spanish population; the smallest, top tier features humanity and God's creation in depictions of the Garden of Eden, Adam, and Eve. Looming tall above the tiers is an incense-filled candlestick that will support a lit Christ candle at Easter.

As noted in the audio description of the candle (linked in the initial post), congregants could move entirely around the candlestick and view it from all sides. The incense and flickering candlelight draw the body into a sensation-filled experience -- this art, while functional, was intended to engage its audience.

The candlestick is 77 x 17 1/4 in. (195.6 x 43.8 cm). For those of you who don't "math," that's as tall as a basketball player at 6'5".

Today, the phrase "appointed time" in verse 29 stands out to me. There is an implicit understanding in these words of an expectation of future action (judgment day?), which also seems to imply understanding of past actions (Creation?). Maybe this spatial interpretation is farcical, but the demons' recognition of Jesus does suggest previous familiarity and enforces an idea of continuous, uninterrupted existence on the part of Jesus (and the demons). This is not a new interpretation, but sometimes it's good to stop and state the obvious.

The Spanish paschal candlestick can be seen to reflect a continuous, uninterrupted existence of the faith on the part of humans, once introduced to Christ Jesus. With the Christ candle above, the piece also reflects the continuity of Christ, himself, as recognized by the demons. The tiers on the candle place all of Creation beneath the representation of Christ via the Easter candle. From the Garden of Eden and representations of the beginning of humanity in the persons of Adam and Eve, to the saints below them, and the foundational disciples of the Church in the lowest tier, the panels show an understanding of Jesus's continuous and eternal nature.

In its functional use, the Candlestick was to be elevated above the people to represent Christ's resurrection and ascension to Heaven. Unlike the townspeople in Matthew 8 who met Jesus and asked him to leave, the Spanish parishioners gathered near the paschal candle and revered the Host (Jesus) housed within the altar.

Final thoughts

I like to think I'm insightful, but that's probably inaccurate. However, this meme came across my phone today and it is scarily accurate.

In the initial post for Week 5, I mentioned my love for The Cloisters. My family first went to The Cloisters to seek the unicorn tapestries after reading about them in The Magic Treehouse books. When I found that the pop culture portion of the tapestries' wiki page did not include local author Mary Pope Osborne, a legend in her own time, I added the reference. How many wiki pages have you altered? I can only remember doing this one.

The Cloisters is a castle fortress that overlooks the Hudson River in Upper Manhattan. It's worth a visit. My daughter posed me here after we dined in the magnificent, central courtyard.

Humans are still responding to the paschal mystery 500 years after the Spanish produced a gilded and paneled larger-than-life candlestick. Here are two different, modern, musical, and Spirit-filled responses to the resurrection. First is Karen Clark Sheard, a lifelong performer and First Lady of the Church of God in Christ.

And, in a different but related style, here is Contemporary Christian pioneer Matthew Ward singing a song by his late sister, Annie Herring.

See you next week in this crazy life.

[apilgrimpassingby]

Short version: the "Easter-Ishtar" rubbish would only fool an English speaker, and possibly a German (the German word for Easter is "Ostern"). In other languages:

Dutch: Pasen

Spanish: Pascua

Russian: Paskha

French: Pâques

Swedish: Påsk

Bulgarian: Pasha

And so on. These in term come from the Greek pascha, (giving name to paschal candles used by Catholic and many Anglican, Lutheran and Methodist Churches, and the paschal trikirion used by the Orthodox churches) a Hellenization of Pesach, a.ka. Passover, a.k.a the Jewish festival with links to Easter (Jesus' last meal with His disciples was at Passover) that falls at a similar time.

The whole "Easter-Ishtar" claim comes from Alexander Hislop, a 19th century Scottish fundie trying to argue that Catholicism was actually disguised Babylonian paganism. It thus makes me annoyed and very amused to see his "work" being deployed by pagans and atheists.

I'm gonna punch anybody that posts the pagan origins of easter this year