{"id":27169,"date":"2025-04-16T16:21:39","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T20:21:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/?p=27169"},"modified":"2025-04-17T15:57:47","modified_gmt":"2025-04-17T19:57:47","slug":"charity-faces-criticism-for-calling-easter-a-pagan-holiday-in-childrens-booklet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/2025\/04\/charity-faces-criticism-for-calling-easter-a-pagan-holiday-in-childrens-booklet","title":{"rendered":"Charity Faces Criticism For Calling Easter a Pagan Holiday in Children\u2019s Booklet"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Adobe Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

English Heritage, a charity that cares for over four hundred historic sites in every corner of England, faces criticism for calling Easter a pagan holiday.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to <\/span>The Christian Post<\/span><\/i><\/a>, <\/span><\/i>in a booklet designed as \u201cpart of an Easter Adventure Quest designed for children visiting English Heritage sites like Whitby Abbey, Dover Castle, and Down House,\u201d Easter is described as a spring celebration honoring the goddess, Eostre.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDid you know Easter started as a celebration of spring? Long ago, people welcomed warmer days and new life by honoring the goddess Eostre, who gave Easter its name!\u201d the poster reads.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

An additional \u201cfun fact\u201d states, \u201cSome traditions for Eostre included dancing around bonfires and decorating homes with flowers.\u201d The poster, laden with pastel colors and cartoon images of flowers, a rabbit, and two young white children (wearing rabbit ears) against a cerulean sky, includes no religious iconography.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Critics <\/span>accuse the organization<\/span><\/a> of \u201c\u2019whitewashing\u2019 one of the holiest days for Christians by ignoring its Christian origins\u201d altogether. As reported, even those who do not \u201cidentify as Christian still believe the booklet should mention the true origins of the holiday.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On <\/span>Talk TV<\/span><\/i><\/a>, <\/span><\/i>broadcaster Peter Caldwell argues that even though paganism existed long before Christianity or Judaism, the cultural traditions of Easter are still very much a Christian holiday.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In a conversation with Jewish broadcaster Jonny Gould, Gould states, \u201cto not call it anything but a Christian festival is to attempt foolishly to delegitimize Christianity.\u201d To the two men, to discredit the religious aspects of the holiday is also to discredit the cultural values of English history.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Locals remain unconvinced of the argument against English Heritage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In response to an article in <\/span>The Telegraph<\/span><\/i><\/a>, <\/span><\/i>reader David Cooks says, \u201c<\/span>I actually prefer the pagan tradition. I’m an atheist and don’t think we should indoctrinate children into believing in lies, but traditions must be respected and maintained.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As another reader cites, although the concept of a spring festival pre-dates Christianity, \u201cthat doesn\u2019t detract at all from the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ (if you are a believer).\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Still others, like reader Bill Palmer, affirm the origins of the egg and the bunny: \u201cWhy not? The egg is pagan in origin, signifying rebirth. The bunny\u2014properly hare\u2014is a symbol of fertility and the coming of spring. Both are part of the celebration of the bountiful goddess Eostre. Plus, of course, children love chocolate.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Although the organization\u2019s <\/span>website<\/span><\/a> describes Easter \u201c<\/span>the most important date in the religious calendar since the very earliest days of Christianity,\u201d the booklet makes no reference of religion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span><\/i>English Heritage sought to explain the omission by stating that the booklet was part of an educational series aimed at children and that they extensively cover Easter\u2019s diverse historical and cultural traditions across their various educational materials and website content,\u201d <\/span>The Christian Post<\/span><\/i><\/a> writes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Likewise, the charity\u2019s Facebook page gives nod to the origin of the Christian tradition by <\/span>describing<\/span><\/a> \u201chow the Easter egg hunt originated in 16th century Germany through Protestant reformer Martin Luther\u201d who \u201corganized egg hunts for his congregation as a symbolic gesture referring to the biblical story of Christ\u2019s resurrection, where women discovered the empty tomb.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Discrepancies between English Heritage\u2019s website and the booklet remain inconsistent, which only seems to fuel the debate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

English Heritage, a charity that cares for over four hundred historic sites in every corner of England, faces criticism for calling Easter a pagan holiday.\u00a0 According to The Christian Post, in a booklet designed as \u201cpart of an Easter Adventure Quest designed for children visiting English Heritage sites like Whitby Abbey, Dover Castle, and Down…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":516,"featured_media":27172,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27169","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nCharity Faces Criticism For Calling Easter a Pagan Holiday in Children\u2019s Booklet<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"English Heritage is under fire for calling Easter a pagan holiday in a kids\u2019 booklet, omitting Christ\u2019s resurrection - 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