1.   The greatest gift we have been given is that of eternal life. It came about by one means only, that sacrificial death and victorious resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD. In light of that resurrection, we celebrate throughout the year this victory over sin and death. [1st Corin. 15:55]

2.    Long before the resurrection of Christ in 33AD, there was a well established holiday called EASTER. This holiday was dedicated to another god, other than the GOD of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was dedicated to goddess Esterous.

3.    Esterous, whose name is also known in these following forms- "Estre", "Eostre", "Ostarun" or "Ostera", was the Anglo-Saxon goddess of the Spring. She was believed to be the goddess of fertility, and therefore the giver of life in the Spring. Each year, the month of April on the Roman calendar was dedicated to her honor, the height of spiritual adultery.

4.    The symbols of the Easter Bunny and Easter eggs are meant to portray her attribute of fertility. The name Esterous, is also where the medical term "estrous cycle" originates (relating to human reproductive process). These symbols and names all relate to the topic of fertility.

5.    The idea behind the entire feast month dedicated to Esterous, is the arrival of the Vernal Equinox. To make a long technical story short, from the arrival of the Vernal Equinox in the beginning of each year, the days become longer, Spring is on the way, life begins anew, and this month was one of praise and thanksgiving to "the goddess of fertility" as she gave new life to the earth.

6.    The Romans also participated in this Spring feast each year. In 325AD, after the rise of Constantine, the first Roman Emperor to declare himself a Christian (and the head of the church), at the Council of Nicea, it was declared that the resurrection of Christ would be celebrated on the Easter Holiday.

7.    Consideration should be given to the matter of offering to the one, true God of the Bible, a "hand-me-down", used holiday once offerred to another goddess. There's no doubt that many will want to research this for themselves. This information should be easily found in any library that has material covering the topic. There is a tendancy in newer publications not to mention the _origin_ of this holiday. Here are two of the older reference materials that I used;

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1 ...from Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary
copywrite 1965 by G. & C. MERRIAM CO. (excerpt encl.)
2 ...from the Encyclopaedia Britannica, Thirteenth
Edition printed in 1926 (excerpt enclosed)