M
mojobadshah
Guest
So someone once told me that the word Easter is derived from the name of a female Germanic deity "Ostara" (akin Avestan Usha "Angel of the Dawn" and Ushastaran "eastern" ) and I was curious as to the connection to the resurrection of Jesus. I looked into it and apparently this Germanic deity is associated with the Vernal Equinox or the day the day begins to grow longer than night. In ancient times this day actually marked the beginning of the New Year. The Roman Calendar used to begin in March, the month of the vernal equinox (and if you count the months beginning with march the rest of the months fall into place correctly according to their names, December actually being the 10th month rather than the 12th month as it is today) and the Goths a Germanic tribe ruled Rome at one point. The Vernal Equinox still begins the New Year or Noe Roze among the Persians and if I'm not mistaken it also marks the Prophet Zoroaster's birthday and the celebration was founded by Jamsheed according to Zoroastrian tradition. I take it that and the Indo-European root must also be from where the Semitic goddess Ishtar who is also associated with the Vernal Equinox was derived though I would like to know more about this. Anyhow it totally makes sense now why Jesus's resurrection fell around the Vernal Equinox. Easter marks the resurrection of a New Year! So Happy New Year again all!