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As
with almost all holidays that have their roots
in Christianity, Easter has been secularized
and commercialized. The dichotomous nature of
Easter and its symbols, however, is not necessarily
a modern fabrication. Since its conception as
a holy celebration in the second century, Easter
has had its non-religious side.
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In
fact, Easter was originally a pagan festival.
The ancient Saxons celebrated the return of
spring with an uproarious festival commemorating
their goddess of offspring and of springtime,
Eastre. When the second-century Christian missionaries
encountered the tribes of the north with their
pagan celebrations, they attempted to convert
them to Christianity. They did so, however,
in a clandestine manner.
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