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NET Bible, Jeremiah 3:6. Those familiar with the Greek myth of Demeter and Persephone will recognize the precedence found in the earlier Inanna myths. Astarte was also worshipped in private homes, and her statues were placed in shrines or on altars in the home. Some devotees may have found the presence of a female divine figure compelling in an otherwise male-dominated religious environment. 13, xxviii. Believing the sexual union of Baal and Asherah produced fertility, their worshipers engaged in immoral sex to cause the gods to join together, ensuring good harvests. If you are trying to schedule a speaking engagement for Ray Vander Laan, please email Alison at [emailprotected], That the World May Know Ministries (TTWMK), Only recently have scholars begun to unravel the complex religious rituals of Israel's Canaanite neighbors. 40-year journey in the wilderness, their Lord accompanied them, protected them, fed them, and guided them to the Promised Land. Offerings to Astarte typically included libations of food and drink. The priest or a male member of the community represented Baal. Some scholars believe that the Canaanites also sacrificed pigs and that God prohibited his people from eating pork in part to prevent this horrible cult from being established among them. The general name, used throughout Palestine and in the Bible, for this type of fire god, was Baal. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Click here for our comprehensive article on ancient Mesopotamia. In Israel, several figurines of the goddess were discovered, and she was presented has having two horns. Dionysus was worshiped in the pagan Decapolis across the Sea of Galilee from the center of Jesus' ministry. The Akkadian Ishtar is also, to a greater extent, an astral deity, associated with the planet Venus. It is easy (and seductive) to honor possessions, fun, relationships, fame, money, and a host of other potential "gods.". Click here for our comprehensive article on ancient Mesopotamia. Astaroth is often invoked in necromantic divination rituals for this purpose. Now available on Amazon. Astarte is the title for a completely independent spirit, perhaps Anats sister. Ornament your body with henna or honey. Kronos is the north African name for Molech. Astarte, wherever worshiped, was a goddess of fertility and sexual love. In this article you will learn who Astaroth actually is, what to expect from him, and two summoning rituals that have worked for myself and magicians that Ive shared these instructions with in the past. Sacred prostitution involved temple priestesses of Inanna/Ishtar having ritual sex with male visitors to the temple, again releasing the divine fertile energy. The earliest deity recognized by the peoples of the ancient Near East was the creator god El. Baal is portrayed as a man with the head and horns of a bull, an image similar to that in biblical accounts. This was viewed as an offering to the fertility goddess. These names all refer to the same false god. The Bible does not actually describe the goddess, but archaeologists have discovered figurines believed to be representations of her. [Scroll to the top] Israelite goddess worship The veneration of Asherah or asherah poles seems to have been fairly widespread in ancient Israel and Judah, and sometimes it was officially sanctioned.The Bible reports that during the days of King Josiah (sixth century B.C.E. In Judges 2:13 & 10:6, 1 Samuel 7:3 & 4, 12:10 & 31:10, Ashtaroth refers to the ancient Canaanite fertility goddess, with a slightly different spelling than Ashtoreth. Baal's victory over death was thought to be repeated each year when he returned from the land of death (underworld), bringing rain to renew the earth's fertility. She is the counterpart to the Babylonian goddess Ishtar and is one of the oldest Middle Eastern aspects of the Goddess, dating to the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. Tammuz is identified as her son/consort, as he is with Ishtar. The adjective spiritual was inserted by the translators because in their opinion this is not a reference to literal prostitution but figuratively compares idolatry to prostitution. As the practice was recounted only in literature, it is unclear whether it was purely symbolic or an actual reenactment. In this way, God's incredible gift of sexuality was perverted to the most obscene public prostitution. The Phoenicians portrayed Astarte with cow horns, representing fertility. . Who Is Astarte? Anal sex between male and male worshipers and male and female worshipers was viewed as an offering to the goddess. she is gone up upon every high Baal's worshipers appeased him by offering sacrifices, usually animals such as sheep or bulls (1 Kings 18:23). up to every high hill and under every green tree to give herself like a Lev 20:2-5; 2 Kgs 23:10, etc.). An intense battle began for the minds and hearts of God's people. Recite an invocation. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. It can be very difficult to distinguish between West Semitic spirits because of their tradition of addressing spirits by both a personal name and an honorific. The name is particularly associated with her worship in the ancient Levant among the Canaanites and Phoenicians. Devotion to the goddess Tanit/Tinnit, a permutation of Astarte, took place in Mediterranean cave sanctuaries and on Phoenician ships. ECUSA recommences Astarte-worship. Maybe, to be safe, they should worship both;Yahweh and Baal. She is extremely horny. When the Philistines defeated Israelite King Saul, they placed his captured armor in Astartes temple as tribute and thanks. Baal's worshipers appeased him by offering sacrifices, usually animals such as sheep or bulls (1 Kings 18:23). World War Two Timeline From The Great War To Germanys Surrender. God placed the Holiness Code prohibitions of Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 in the context of worshiping false gods, 18:3, 21-22 and 20:2-5, 13, 23. She holds a bowl beneath her breasts, which are pierced so that milk placed in the statuette flowed from her breasts into the bowl. The land was fertile beyond anything the Hebrew nomads had ever seen. Astarte (from Greek (Astrte)) is the name of a major goddess as known from Northwestern Semitic regions, cognate in name, origin and functions with the goddess Ishtar in Mesopotamian texts. Learn Religions. In art and texts, Ishtar is depicted supporting favored rulers in battle. Sit in a lotus meditation pose on the floor, Meditate until your mind is empty and relaxed, Visualize a large, dark citadel, monastery or cathedral, Walk around it seven times counter-clockwise (notice the walls, windows, any special features, the main gate..) while silently repeating Hail Astaroth, As you reach the main gate on your seventh circle, enter inside, You will find yourself on a dark stairway spiraling downwards, As you go down the dark stairway you will notice a fiery, infernal light emanating from below the stairway, Go through the portal and you will find yourself in a peaceful, green, endless field, Astaroth will be on the field, approach him while visualizing yourself keeping the silver ring under your nose and greet him humbly, Now is your chance to ask Astaroth all you wanted to know and to receive his well-informed answers. Solomon is said to have built a high place to her near Jerusalem, which was removed during Josiah's reform (I Kings xi. Ashtoreth was the goddess of war and fertility, called Ishtar by Assyrians and Babylonians, called Astarte by Greeks and Romans and called Tanith by North Africans. Unique Circular Format see more in less space. The reaction against Baal and Astarte, inaugurated by the Prophets, had a profound effect upon the moral life of Israel (see "Jour. x. And desired to, In Egypt, where the Hyksos invaders introduced her, the cow horns of Hathor became part of her iconography, Athirat, the lady of the sea, appears to be the consort of El, the equal of the Hebrew god Yahweh. Wigington, Patti. Eventually, Astarte and Hadad were given the right by Elus to reign over the land. Some scholars have proposed that these figurines were dedicated by women desiring to be pregnant or nursing children. Phoenician Goddess of Fertility and Sexual Pleasure. A nude woman holding lilies or sometimes wearing a Philistine helmet. The "Sunrise Service" is still an intragal part of Easter today. Only the child sacrifice of the Baal cult came to an end with the Greeks and Romans. If one is clearly oriented towards good, the other has much darker goals. English: Astarte, a Semitic goddess whose name appears in the Bible as Ashtoreth. The history of Israel was inextricably linked to pagan worship, which God abhorred and prohibited his followers from having anything to do with. After all, secular prostitutes plied their trade in Mesopotamian cities as well. Easter egg activities . There stands in their midst a bronze statue of Kronos, its hands extended over a bronze brazier, the flames of which engulf the child. Hail Astaroth! To show her sovereignty, Astarte decided to place a bulls head on her own. The high priestess of the city, acting in the capacity of the fertility goddess Inanna, would have sex with the high priest or the king role-playing the fertility god Dumuzi. By the fourth century BCE, kings of the Phoenician city-state Sidon served as priests of Astarte; their wives were her priestesses. Ashtart is a Semitic Goddess of love and war and the Canaanite Great Goddess who is the cult partner of Ba'al (the King). This is always a good rule to follow, regardless of the demon youre trying to summon. Ishtars primary legacy from the Sumerian tradition is the role of fertility figure; she evolved, however, into a more complex character, surrounded in myth by death and disaster, a goddess of contradictory connotations and forcesfire and fire-quenching, rejoicing and tears, fair play and enmity. Astaroth also encourages slothfulness and laziness so be sure to thank him and finish the ritual properly. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. 4, lxvi. Patti Wigington is a pagan author, educator, and licensed clergy. For example, sects that worship Hera and/or Themis may include worship of Aphrodite, but encourage monogamy and stress her role in committed relationships and marriage. It is best to understand these rituals as a religious act of devotion to the goddess rather than as sex per se. The cult spread westward from Phoenicia into Greece, Rome, and as far as the British Isles. Hear the prayer of Your servant and friend! Please allow a few minutes for this process to complete. Astarte is the counterpart of the Babylonian goddess Ishtar. It's hard to know why Yahweh's people failed to see that he alone had power over these things. Yet in spite of being so anti-gay, the NET Bible links the Mo-lech worship of Leviticus 18:21 and 20:2-5, 13, with sexual sin and with spiritual prostitution, "I will cut off from the midst of their people both him and all who follow after him in spiritual prostitution, to commit prostitution by worshiping Molech (Hebrew - to commit harlotry after Molech)." But her cult. She also wandered around the world, and she was noted to have picked up a fallen star or a meteorite and placed it at Tyre. Bibl. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable. Anyone who reads history knows that various writers in various countries spell names differently. She was ruler of all spirits of the dead, who lived in heaven in bodies of light and were visible on earth as stars. Astarte ruled all spirits of the dead residing in heaven, visible from earth as stars; hence came her name Astroarche, Queen of the Stars, the mother of souls in heaven, the Moon surrounded by her star-children, to whom she gave their astral (starry) bodies. Moreover, Ashteroth was a fertility goddess from Canaan, and the horns were used as a symbol of the mountain peaks in the land. on the ancient Syrian and Egyptian rituals of celebrating Astartes rebirth of the solar god on December 25th, that the Virgin had brought forth a newborn child, which, No doubt the Virgin who thus conceived and bore a son on the twenty-fifth of December was the great Oriental goddess whom the Semites called the Heavenly Virgin or the Heavenly Goddess, in Semitic lands she was a form of Astarte, The theory that credits Astarte as being a prototype of the Virgin Mary made. She had her own priests and prophets. The cult of Astarte spread westward from Phoenicia into ancient Greece, Rome and as far as the British Isles. Aphrodite can be summoned by visualizing, Read More How to Summon AphroditeContinue. 74, and "Hebraica," x. vii. Astarte was worshipped from the Bronze Age through classical antiquity, and her name is particularly associated with her worship in the ancient Levant among the Canaanites and Phoenicians, though she was originally associated with Amorite cities like Ugarit and Emar, as well as Mari and Ebla. Blow out the candle and go into another room. She is linked with war, sexuality and fertility. Alternatively, she is horned. 3) may be a reference to a form of the cult similar to that known in Cyprus, where swine were sacred to Astarte ("Jour. It is said that in Corinth alone, there were more than 1,000 prostitutes in Aphrodite's temple. (The final e in Astarte may or may not be pronounced.). But this didn't happen immediately. a fire god worshiped throughout the ancient near East and North Africa, by Canaanites and Philistines, Arameans and Semitic peoples and later, Phoenicians. 20th Century Timeline Of World History: What Happened? xxxi. Astarte was very popular in Old Testament times and traveled far and wide, starting up in business all over the place with the help of her consort and . Separating Fact from Myth: Asherah and Idol Worship. Some 1450 years after Leviticus, the Apostle Paul references pagan worship in Romans 1:26-27, when he blasts the same kind of fertility goddess worship in first century Rome. These demons can help with all sorts of problems, provide assistance in reaching your goals and becoming more powerful in magic. Regardless of your primary motivations, you can now hire me for a consultation and to do the difficult part of the equation for you, while you reap the rewards. The inclusion of this prohibition against Molech worship here may be due to some sexual connection of this kind, or perhaps simply to the lexical link between (zera) meaning seed, semen in v. 20 but offspring in v. (worship of the god Hercules), I made a voyage to Tyre in Phoenicia, hearing there was a temple of . . In the Sacred Marriage, humans took the place of the gods in religious rituals devoted to fertility. Astarte waded in the blood of her human victims. According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art: "Although there existed no single state theology, the major gods reflect local geographical concerns about the fertility of the earth and the importance of water as well as relationships to the sky and the underworld." Regardless their opinion, notice that even anti-gay Christians admit Leviticus 18:22, "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." And if Astarte is not close . By the eighth century Anglo-Saxons had adopted the name to designate the celebration of Christ's resurrection.". She was, the ancient Phoenician great goddess of fertility, motherhood, and war, Astarte is the counterpart of the Babylonian goddess, And it is one of the oldest Middle Eastern aspects of the great. Just as they went forth into this . Erotic temple rites and sacred prostitution were central to her veneration. She is the author of Daily Spellbook for the Good Witch, Wicca Practical Magic and The Daily Spell Journal. Once she performed this ritual, the male visitor gave her money to donate to the temple. It is not appropriate here to discuss all the gods and goddesses of the Greco-Roman pantheon; however, a few of them were significant in the first century, and some are even mentioned by name in the Bible. The so-called Queen of Heaven, whose worship is detested in Jeremiah 7:18; 44:17 - 19, 25, may be Astarte, although cases have also been made for other Canaanite goddesses or the Mesopotamian Ishtar. The ensuing generations forgot the God who had rescued them from Egypt ( Judges 2:10-12 ). Asherah was worshiped in various ways, including through ritual sex. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Interestingly, in her earlier forms, she also appears as a warrior goddess, and eventually was celebrated as Artemis. Over the years, Baal became the dominant deity, and the worship of El faded. A Phoenician statuette uncovered near Granada, Spain, dating to the seventh or sixth centuries BCE, depicts Astarte enthroned, flanked by sphinxes. ASHTAROTH was THE CANAANITE'S Virgin, Queen of Heaven who was their goddess of fertility, love, and war exactly like Ishtar and Isis. Article Learn facts that you cant learn just from reading the bible My clients tend to be ambitious people from all walks of life. The pantheon in Phoenicia was generally ascribed to the Sanchuniathon. As goddess of Venus, delighting in bodily love, Ishtar was the protectress of prostitutes and the patroness of the alehouse. He also has terrible breath. However, the work was all Louys own, and included a stunning prayer honoring Astarte: Mother inexhaustible and incorruptible,Creatures, born the first, engendered by thyself and by thyself conceived,Issue of thyself alone and seeking joy within thyself, Astarte! "Who Is Astarte?" Baal, worship, worshipping, idols, fertility, cults, canaan, asherah, pagan, [Hebrew Mind], 1 Kings 14:23-24, 2 Kings 16:4, 2 Kings 17:10, Acts 13:6, Acts 19:35, Deuteronomy 7:5, Deuteronomy 12:2-3, Deuteronomy 12:20, Deuteronomy 12:31, Deuteronomy 18:10, Ezekiel 6:13, Isaiah 65:1-5, Judges 3:7, Jeremiah 3:6, Jeremiah 3:13, Luke 8:31, Matthew 16:18, Numbers 3:11-13. King Solomon got in trouble when he tried to introduce the cult of Astarte into Jerusalem, much to the displeasure of Yahweh. Amazing Bible Timeline with World History, http://www.usc.edu/dept/LAS/arc/profilecoin/html/religion.html>http://www.usc.edu/dept/LAS/arc/profilecoin/html/religion.html, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Astarte_(goddess)#mediaviewer/File:Dama_de_Galera_(M.A.N._Madrid)_01.jpg, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Astarte_(goddess)#mediaviewer/File:The_worship_of_Ashtoreth.jpg. Click here to find out more about this unique and fun Bible study tool! Jeremiah (vii. They preferred to worship goat idols and demons instead of the one true God. Begin visualizing energy emanating from the light and pouring itself into you. Astaroth is a great and a strong duke, coming forth in the shape of a foul angel, sitting upon an infernal dragon, and carrying on his right hand a viper, who also claimed to rule 40 legions, and had to be approached by the conjurer with a magical ring on account of his stinking breath. As early as 1450 BC, as they wandered in the wilderness, Israel was worshiping Moloch, even before they entered the land of Canaan. 7:5, 12:2-3; 2 Kings 16:4, 17:10; Jer. Astarte is a spirit of abundance, prosperity, love, sex, and war. HistoryOnTheNet 2000-2019. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. With Shamash, the sun god, and Sin, the moon god, she forms a secondary astral triad. One can readily see why God and Moses called this pagan religious practice and the sexual rites associated with it, abomination. 45, 47). The Catholic Church slowly and gradually grafted these pagan customs on to the name and resurrection of Christ . 5, 33; II Kings xxiii. Throughout the Israelites? )Continue, Many will compare astral projection with lucid dreams, but there is one important difference. 21.". 1-74; W. Robertson Smith, Religion of the Semites, Index. Given this cultural, historical and religious context, it becomes clear that God did not intend to forbid a loving, committed gay relationship or gay marriage between two men or two women. There is evidence that Ishtar and Astarte were worshiped at Paphos in the early Iron Age and were brought, so to speak, to the island by the Phoenicians along with the Egyptian cult of Hathor, who may also have been identified with Aphrodite (see Hatton-Brown, 1997 p.64-6). As in Beirut, some coins depicted Astarte, along with Poseidon and Eshmun being praised together. Focus on the Family is committed to helping families thrive according to Gods Word! Place your hand with a silver ring under your nose. ), the king "tore down the quarters of the male shrine prostitutes, which were in the temple of the Lord and where women . How Long Was Joseph In Potiphars House? Learn about covens and degree systems, initiation, Sabbat and Esbat rites, and other milestones such as handfastings, birth, and death. In the myths concerning Inanna and Dumuzi, due to some of Inannas less exalted behavior, Dumuzi must spend half the year in the underworld. Make sure to stay in control at all times instead of subjugating yourself to the demon. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Both of these sacred sexual practices existed for thousands of years in Mesopotamia. Her worship spanned from around 1500 BCE to 200 BCE. In Phoenicia, several states including Byblos, Tyre and Sidon were among the centers of worship for Astarte. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ishtar-Mesopotamian-goddess, Ancient Origins - Love is a Battlefield: The Legend of Ishtar, First Goddess of Love and War, Oracc - Ancient Mesopotamian Gods and Goddesses - Itar. She was associated with the moon and called the Mother of the Universe, giver of all life on Earth. Therefore, it should be taken with the utmost seriousness. Under the kings, this spiritual battle continued. It was discovered that Astarte was linked with the Uni-Astre of the Etruscans. Semitic describes a group of languages, and by extension, kindred cultures of the Near East and Africa which include Phoenician, Arabic, Hebrew and Assyrian. When the Philistines defeated Israelite King Saul, they placed his captured armor in Astarte's temple as tribute and thanks. In the book of Jeremiah, there is a verse referencing this female deity, and Yahwehs anger at the people who honor her: Among some fundamentalist branches of Christianity, there is a theory that Astartes name provides the origin for the Easter holiday which should, therefore, not be celebrated because it is held in honor of a false deity. God spoke to his people on Mount Sinai and reestablished his covenant with them in the Ten Commandments. creditability by many who accept that Christ was born on December 25th. Sacred Marriage and Sacred Prostitution in Ancient Mesopotamia. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. For instance, there were coins in Sidon that included the symbol with a chariot where a globe or stone appears, and this represented Astarte. But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves." And it was through he flattery of, to build a house on Saphon, a mountain situated in the sides of the north, In spite of her maiden and mother titles Anat was an aggressive goddess who slew Baal enemies. Both of these sacred sexual practices existed for thousands of years in Mesopotamia. Symbols of Astarte include the dove, the sphinx, and the planet Venus. . After all, secular prostitutes plied their trade in Mesopotamian cities as well. Astarte is the Phenician name of the primitive Semitic mother-goddess, out of which the most important of the Semitic deities were developed. Ishtar is the Akkadian counterpart of the West Semitic goddess Astarte. ), Two Ways to Astral Project & The Demon That Unlocks the Power. The Encyclopedia of Witches, Witchcraft and Wicca written by Rosemary Ellen Guiley Copyright 1989, 1999, 2008 by Visionary Living, Inc. Astarte was worshipped by Canaanites, Egyptians, Hebrews, Philistines, and Phoenicians, but exactly who is she? "Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel? 12:31, 18:9-10). These female figurines are associated with domestic religious rituals. The first recorded mention of Astartes name dates back to 1478 B.C.E., but her cult was already well established by then. Inanna, an important goddess in the Sumerian pantheon, came to be identified with Ishtar, but it is uncertain whether Inanna is also of Semitic origin or whether, as is more likely, her similarity to Ishtar caused the two to be identified. Many gods and goddesses of the Mediterranean and Middle East appreciate gifts of honey and wine, incense, bread, and fresh meat. It took the Assyrian destruction of Israel and the Babylonian Captivity of Judah to convince the Israelites that there is only one omnipotent God. His mistress, the fertility goddess Asherah, gave birth to many gods, including a powerful god named Baal ("Lord"). Believing Jews and non-Jews living in the land of Israel were also prohibited from pagan sexual worship of the Canaanite fertility goddess because God viewed such pagan worship as abomination. 65:1-5 for an example of Israel's participating in the pagan practices of the Canaanites.) At times of crisis, Baal's followers sacrificed their children, apparently the firstborn of the community, to gain personal prosperity. They may represent the goddess Asherah and were used, especially by women, in a "popular" form of worship distinct from the official worship of Yahweh. Astarte is the Phenician name of the primitive Semitic mother-goddess, out of which the most important of the Semitic deities were developed. Astarte is the Hellenized form of the Middle Eastern goddess Ashtoreth, a form of Ishtar, worshipped from the Bronze Age through classical antiquity. The Bible indicates that she was worshiped near trees and poles, called Asherah poles (Deut. She was also the goddess of rain and thunderstormsleading to her association with An, the sky godand was often pictured with the lion, whose roar resembled thunder. Groves, hilltops, and caves; she had important temples in Beirut, Byblos, Sidon, Tyre, Malta, Cytherea, and Eryx (now Mount Erice, Sicily). Fire gods like Moloch and his fertility goddess consort, Ashtoreth, were not religious fantasies. prostitute to other gods." The goddess was worshiped with sexual rituals that were condemned by the prophets of the Old Testament. Ancient Assyrians and Babylonians portrayed her caressing a child. Some scholars believe that the Canaanites also sacrificed pigs and that God prohibited his people from eating pork in part to prevent this horrible cult from being established among them. Despite God's repeated warnings, many Israelites continued engaging in worshiping a pagan god called Asherah as . Most children and families who color or hide Easter eggs as part of their Resurrection Sunday tradition have no knowledge of the origin of these traditions. With Shamash, the sun god, and Sin, the moon god, she forms a secondary astral triad. Pictorial representations often show her naked. A beautiful, sexy woman sometimes depicted with a Hathor-style hairdo. It is also the Greek name of Ishtar, who is a Mesopotamian Semitic goddess. It was because it included sexual rituals, and sacrifices of firstborn children and newborn animals to her. Astarte is one of the names that was commonly linked with the female divinity of the people during the early Bronze Age. As for the land of Carthage, the goddess Tanit was worshipped along with Astarte. All rights reserved. The worship practices of his followers were no different. What is the meaning of AD, BC, BCE and CE? 14) attest various forms of this worship in their time, which may refer to a direct importation from Babylonia. Asherah, the moon goddess, was the principal female deity worshiped by ancient Syrians, Phoenicians, and Canaanites. The priests and male prostitutes, who were consecrated to her cult were called qadesh, qedishim or sodomites, Deuteronomy 23:18; 1 Kings 14:24; 15:12; 22:46. Easter, a pagan festival with its pagan fertility symbols, replaced the God-ordained festivals that Jesus Christ, the apostles and the early Church observed.