Apr 13 2006
Ishtar and Nimrod
First, a plug for a great product that my wife uses, and that each male reader might do well to consider as a gift for the lady in his life. Or, anybody who is special to you and feels comfortable carrying what most circles would classify as feminine.
It’s the Ms. Sew-N-Sew Handbag, a custom carry-all available in a variety of fabrics and sizes, with cherished photos displayed elegantly on the side. My wife uses hers as a purse, and I know from handing it to her on occasion that it is strong. Durable? She’s had her first one for at least a year and every stitch is still perfectly intact. Plus, our adorable boy’s visage adorns it.
Easter Thoughts
A blurb on a cable news channel in our company’s lounge read, “How to celebrate Easter without offending non-Christians.” Some talking heads babbled at an uncharacteristically low volume, so I came away without any tips and feeling a bit unprepared.
Has our world become so intolerant that an otherwise harmless holiday is an affront to the non-believer? If a cashier at a local grocer says, “Happy Easter,” does the non-Christian leave the store feeling persecuted, or just peeved that someone has the nerve to be cheerful? Perhaps instead s(he) should politely inform the Christian of his or her ignorance.
Easter is not Biblical, and any Bible containing that word suffers from an incorrect translation of the word for Passover.
Regardless (not irregardless), I believe it is wise for customer-facing employees to omit from their reportoire any potentially religious smalltalk. When one of them says, “Merry Christmas,” I’m tempted to say, “I’m Jewish, so my savior has not yet come,” or something similarly droll. It might be mean to say, but repartee in such situations rarely elicits more than a “huh?”
If you had learned about Easter by watching television, what would you think of it?
It’s a time to eat candy. Fine. Lots of holidays, even those created and perpetuated by greeting card companies, call for candy. Holidays come only once a year, so we use them as an excuse to treat ourselves to every manner of unhealthy delectable.
More specifically, however, Easter is a time to eat candy shaped like eggs. Eggs delivered by a bunny. Huh?
Despite all this, it is incorrect to say that Easter has been secularized. Just a little research reveals the converse. This account of Easter’s origin, in places seeming like a joke, is corroborated here. It all comes from a guy named Nimrod and a lady named Ishtar (pronounced “Easter”).
Hammer Time
I finished nailing the boards in the attic. Before switching to radio, I listened to my custom 1980’s soul mix and Soundgarden’s Superunknown. The first pic I took while standing on the ladder. I then turned about 90 degrees left and shot the single largest section. The last is two boards over in a section all by themselves. They’re under the highest spot in the roof, so we can stack and/or put tall things there. I almost fell through the ceiling once. That’s about as exciting as it got.
Click to enlarge.
Looks great, honey! Should I feel a bit guilty that you were working so hard while I was out enjoying a drink with the gals? Naw? I thought you’d say that, ’cause you’re just so dang sweet!
I agree with you about people being WAY too sensitive about things like holidays.. etc.
However, to say Easter is not biblical… well maybe the word isn’t in the bible, but here’s where “Easter” came from:
Easter
originally a Saxon word (Eostre), denoting a goddess of the Saxons, in honour of whom sacrifices were offered about the time of the Passover. Hence the name came to be given to the festival of the Resurrection of Christ, which occured at the time of the Passover. In the early English versions this word was frequently used as the translation of the Greek pascha (the Passover). When the Authorized Version (1611) was formed, the word “passover” was used in all passages in which this word pascha occurred, except in Act 12:4. In the Revised Version the proper word, “passover,” is always used.
BTW, have I mentioned that I truely admire your writing Mark?
I wish I had such skills.. *S*
Have a great Easter! *chuckling*
Dave - I came in here this morning before getting ready for work to amend my post to say that I do not support either of the sites I cited (in a hurry, so I’m leaving that wording in place). I merely linked them as sources for that story. I was raised in a strict Christian church that went as closely by the Bible as any, and they did not celebrate Easter. They saw it as a secular holiday.
Probably nobody will ever know for sure where it started, but I still believe it started way before Christian churches adopted it. It undoubtedly has morphed into something else since then, which is why it’s so funny with the whole eggs, bunny, Christ thing.
Here’s a description from a site that promotes religious tolerance, unlike those I cited, which seem one-sided. Yes, I’m leaving that wording, too.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/easter.htm
Random comments:
Easter certainly isn’t a secular holiday, but it HAS been secularised fully as much as Christmas. I mean, I think of bunnies and chocolate eggs before Christ doing that whole resurrection thing.
And… “How to celebrate Easter without offending non-Christians” ?? WTF?? As long as you’re not lobbing chocolate-covered Easter egg grenades at random Jews, Muslims and atheists, praying that God smites them for their heretical beliefs, you’re doing okay. It’s a religious holiday. Not everybody shares the same religion. Suck it up.
Thank you for saying that ‘irregardless’ thing. Word.
I pronounce ‘Ishtar’ phonetically and think of Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty every time I see that word.
‘Spoonman’ is my favourite track from Superunknown.
Great discussion on religious holidays. Why is it that people get so huffy about such things? Always amazes me. I’m the editor of a newsletter for a non-profit organization and we have to be so careful not to offend (Winter Festival vs. Christmas Festival, Dec 24th vs. Christmas Eve, Egg Basket vs. Easter Egg Basket, etc). The last thing I want to do is offend someone and I guess my question is, does it really offend people, or do we just think it offends people? Is there anyone out there who is truly offended by someone wishing him or her Happy Easter or Merry Christmas or who has received a publication that uses the word “Christmas” and/or “Easter”?
Glad to see everybody throwing their two cents in the bucket.
Erica - I started out just trying to say what you said, but got sidetracked. It happens.
Simon - It is seen as a Christian holiday. No doubt. The church has done a very good job of making that so. Like any belief system trying to make its way in the world, Christianity worked hard to turn the opposition’s focal points to its own advantage. In its nascency it placed religious holidays on dates that corresponded with existing non-Christian holidays. I can’t look for sources at the moment, but Christmas is a fine example of this. Where does a Bible say December 25 is the birthdate?
I don’t write any of this to be anti-Christian. Many Christian churches don’t celebrate Easter or Christmas. They usually are the ones that don’t have flashy churches and where the minister dresses just like everybody else.
Yes, “Spoonman” rocks. I belted it out from our attic last night. I just hope the neighbors didn’t notice it was coming from above — they might have thought God was singing Soundgarden. I also like “The Day I Tried to Live.”
I think that a way bigger deal is made out of all of it. And for the people that actually are offended: lighten up a bit! That might sound harsh, but that’s my opinion and I’m entitled!
If people expect me to stop saying “Merry Christmas” or “Have a Happy Easter” at those times of the year, then they’re just going to have to be prepared to be letdown. IDGAS. They can be upset if they want to. When the world becomes so PC that people can’t wish well to other people with a smile on their face and have it be recieved at least semi-appreciatively, then we’ll know that the PC police have done their job. Wish me a pleasant Holiday, any Holiday, and I won’t be offended. I guess people would rather get to the parking lot and call the manager on their cell phone to complain than to have some cajones and simply say, “Thank you, but I don’t practice that belief,” and move on. Geez…give me a break.
I had to hit the word “change” to the right of my name to unveil the ability to answer the question and submit a comment. I think I’ve got it now…
Charles, I don’t know why it asked you to click “Change.” I was posting a new entry at about the time you were on, so maybe it somehow thought you were logged in. When I’m logged in, I’m not required to answer a question to post a comment. If that happens again, just try to submit with the validation answer. Weird, and perhaps a bug.
Yeah, the PC thing is ridiculous. People have become so insular that it is refreshing to me any time they say anyhing at all, and ecstatic if they say something cheerful.
Happy Easter, y’all!!!
You know, there’s a certain ‘Garden of Eden’ relevance to the thought of God singing Soundgarden. Why it would be emanating from your roof, though, is another matter entirely.