The reason why my household does not celebrate Easter is not because it is not mentioned in scripture. Easter actually IS mentioned in scripture. Before I show the place where it is mentioned, I must first point out the following:
Easter: The Encyclopedia Britannica (1934) states: "Easter, Ostara, or Ishtar was the goddess of Spring in the religion of the ancient Angles and Saxons. Every April a festival was celebrated in her honor. With the beginnings of Christianity, the old gods were put aside. From then on the festival was celebrated in honor of the resurrection of Christ, but was still known as Easter after the old goddess"
Easter Bunny: "The rabbit is well known as a sexual symbol of fertility. In various parts of the world, religions which developed from Babel also associate the rabbit with periodicity, both human and lunar (Egypt, China, etc.). c the Easter bunny symbolizes the Mother Goddess. Annual Spring time fertility rituals are associated worship of the Mother Goddess and Tammuz, the reincarnation of her husband Nimrod cBasically, almost every vile, profane and idolatrous practice you can think of originated at Babel with Queen Semiramis, the Mother Goddess and Nimrod. As the people scattered from Babel with their different languages, they, of course, used different names for Nimrod (Tammuz) and Semiramis. Some called the Mother Goddess "ISHTAR" (originally pronounced "Easter"). In other lands, she was called Eostre, Astarte, Ostera, and Eastre. Other names for Semiramis, the Mother Goddess include: Wife of Baal, Ashtaroth or Ashtoreth, and Queen of Heaven. The Mother goddess was frequently worshipped as the goddess of fertility - and as a sort of Mother Nature and goddess of Spring and sexual love and birth. She was also worshipped as a mediator between god and man. Sexual orgies and temple prostitutes were often used in her worship and in attempting to gain her favor." - http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-t020.html#11
Easter Eggs: "The egg was a sacred symbol among the Babylonians. They believed an old fable about an egg of wondrous size which was supposed to have fallen from heaven into the Euphrates River. From this marvelous egg - according to the ancient story - the Goddess Astarte (Easter) [Semiramis], was hatched. And so the egg came to symbolize the Goddess Easter." - The Jewish Encyclopedia, Vol. 9, p. 30
Hot Cross Buns: Buns eaten by Saxons in honor of the goddess of Eostre. The cross represented the four quarters of the moon.
Easter Ham: It was a custom to celebrate coming out of a fast/weeping for Tammuz (the Babylonian sun-god who was husband/mate to Ishtar/Easter). Tammuz was killed by a wild boar (symbol of winter). This is why the custom of eating "Easter Ham" began. It symbolized triumph over the boar as Tammuz was resurrected on this day.
Easter Baskets: According to Witchvox.com, in pagan tradition, baskets full of treats were left out for fairies at different times of the year. This was said to save the basket provider from becoming the subject of fairy mischief. At Ostara, these baskets were filled with sweet things, corresponding to the nectar in new flowers. This is most likely the origin of the traditional Easter basket, filled with real or artificial grass, candy, eggs and other treats. http://www.ehow.com/about_6910694_pagan-easter-food-traditions.html
Sunrise service: Another ritual that these pagans would do during Easter time (as the sunlight starts to trump the darkness) in worship of the Sun.
Now, after knowing this....what word (or group of words) does not belong in the group of words below:
"Easter" "Easter Eggs" "Easter Basket" "Ham" "Sunrise Service" "Hot Cross Buns" "Yeshua the Messiah"
Anybody not blinded by their tradition would easily see that "Yeshua the Messiah" does not belong in the group above. He does belong in the group below:
"Passover" "Feast of Unleavened Bread" "Feast of First Fruits" "Seder meal" "Lamb"
What did our Creator and King command us to do?
1. He commanded us to practice His holy days that He laid out and NOT to follow the customs of the heathen.
2. He commanded us not to eat unclean meats (Ham is not clean). Also, the Messiah was not known as the "pig of God". He is the "lamb of God".
3. He commanded us that during this time, we should eat unleavened bread (Hot Cross Buns are leavened)
4. He told us not to mix the holy with the unholy.
Also, notice that "Easter" is also known as "Queen of Heaven". Hot Cross buns were made to her. Now, here is the Bible verse that is talking about Easter:
Jeremiah 7:17-18
"Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger."
God gave us times to worship. The Messiah did not fulfill "Good Friday" and "Easter". He fulfilled "Passover" and "Feast of First Fruits". The day that the women found the tomb empty was not "Easter", but the "Feast of First Fruits".
One might say, "as long as we are worshipping him, it doesn't matter how we do it". These people who say this would probably object to one killing a pig, and with its blood make a pentagram on the floor, putting candles at each tip, and praying to God in this way. (I am sure God would object to this too). To these people I will say, "Does it really make sense to you that God would give a whole bunch of instructions on the proper way to worship Him and then all of a suddon just say, 'Ah, heck with that law that I gave you. Just worship me how ever YOU think is right. Sure, go mix some pagan customs in if you want to. I don't care. You no longer have to keep the days that I set apart for you as holy. You can make up your own.... better yet...why don't you try out the pagan days and see those days suit you better.'"
"holy" - from Hebrew word qadash which means to set apart or be seperate.
More verses (because my words mean nothing if they are not backed by God's words):
Lev 10:10
And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;
Lev 19:2
Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I, YHWH, your God am holy.
Ezekiel 44:23
And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.
Isaiah 1:13-16 (NKJV)
Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil,
Deuteronomy 12:29-32 (NKJV)
When YHWH your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, "How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise." You shall not worship YHWH your God in that way; for every abomination to YHWH which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.
