Word Origin & History
Easter
O.E. Eastre (Northumbrian Eostre), from P.Gmc. *Austron, a goddess of fertility and sunrise whose feast was celebrated at the springequinox, from *austra-, from PIE *aus- "to shine" (especially of thedawn). Bede says Anglo-Saxon Christians adopted her name andmany of the celebratory practices for their Mass of Christ's resurrection. Ultimately related to east. Almostall neighboring languages use a variant of Latin Pasche to name thisholiday.
