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=> Bede's account of Eostre

Posted by Tiglath (Guest) - Friday, April 27 2007, 5:13:17 (CEST)
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Bede's account of Eostre

According to Bede (c. 672 - 735), writing in De temporum ratione ("On the Reckoning of Time"), Ch. xv, "The English months"[1], the word "Easter" is derived from Eostre, an Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring, to whom Eostur-monath, corresponding to our month of April (Latin: Aprilis), was dedicated:

"15. The English Months.
"In olden time the English people – for it did not seem fitting to me that I should speak of other nations' observance of the year and yet be silent about my own nation's – calculated their months according to the course of the moon. Hence after the manner of the Hebrews and the Greeks, [the months] take their name from the moon, for the moon is called mona and the month monath.
"The first month, which the Latins call January, is Giuli; Februrary is called Sol-monath; March Hreth-monath; April, Eostur-monath; May Thrimilchi..."
"Eostur-monath has a name which is now translated Paschal month, and which was once called after a goddess of theirs named Eostre, in whose honour feasts were celebrated in that month. Now they designate that Paschal season by her name, calling the joys of the new rite by the time-honoured name of the old observance."
What is secure in Bede's passage is that the lunar month around the month of April in the Julian calendar was called Eostur or similar; In Vita Karoli Magni Einhard tells, that Charlemagne (c. 742 or 747 - 814) gave the months names in his own language and used 'Ostar-manoth' for April.[1]

Those who question Bede's account of a goddess suggest that "the Anglo-Saxon Eostur-monath meant simply 'the month of opening' or 'the month of beginnings'."[2]

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eostre

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The full topic:

Letter to Maggie and David #2 Tiglath - Friday, April 27 2007, 1:26:27 (CEST)
- Etymology and the origins of Easter traditions Tiglath - 04/27 05:07
  - Bede's account of Eostre Tiglath - 04/27 05:13
- Re: Letter to Maggie and David #2 pancho - 04/27 06:45
- Re: Letter to Maggie and David #2 Sargon - 09/15 09:55
- all well and good but... pancho - 09/15 16:47

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