The worship of Tammuz predates Christianity and was practiced in ancient Mesopotamia, especially in Babylon (modern-day Iraq). Tammuz was associated with fertility, vegetation, and seasonal cycles. He was connected with the goddess Ishtar (also called Inanna, Astarte, or Ashtoreth in different cultures), a deity linked to fertility, love, and war.
According to ancient mythology:
Tammuz died and descended into the underworld, symbolizing the death of vegetation during dry seasons.
Ishtar mourned his death, and rituals of mourning and lamentation were performed by worshipers.
Some traditions described a seasonal return or restoration of life connected to Tammuz.
Historical records show that mourning rituals connected to Tammuz existed in the ancient Near East. The Bible references this practice in the book of Ezekiel:
“Then He said to me, ‘Son of man, do you see what they are doing…?’ And He brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the house of the Lord, and I saw women sitting there mourning for Tammuz.”
— Ezekiel 8:13–14
This passage is generally understood as condemning pagan worship practices that had entered Jerusalem during the prophet Ezekiel’s time (6th century BC).
Some modern writers draw parallels between the ancient mourning rituals for Tammuz and the Christian observance of Lent, which lasts approximately 40 days before Easter. However, historians and scholars debate how direct or substantial these connections are. Lent developed gradually within Christianity as a period of fasting, repentance, and preparation for the remembrance of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In the early centuries of Christianity, there were major disagreements about when the resurrection of Jesus should be commemorated. This became known as the Quartodeciman controversy.
Two primary positions emerged:
Some believers observed the resurrection in connection with Passover on the 14th of Nisan according to the Hebrew calendar.
Others observed it on the following Sunday.
This issue was addressed at the First Council of Nicaea in AD 325, held in Nicaea (modern-day İznik, Turkey). The council determined that Easter would be celebrated on a Sunday and calculated independently from the Jewish calendar. Emperor Constantine later wrote against relying on Jewish calculations for determining the date.
The New Testament places the death of Jesus during Passover. Many believers also connect His resurrection with the Feast of Firstfruits described in Leviticus 23, which occurs during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
The English word “Easter” has a debated origin. The 8th-century English monk Bede wrote that the name came from Ēostre, an Anglo-Saxon spring goddess associated with the month Ēosturmōnaþ in early medieval England. In most other languages, however, the celebration is called forms of “Pascha,” derived from the Hebrew word for Passover.
Examples include:
Greek: Pascha
Latin: Pascha
Spanish: Pascua
French: Pâques
Some Christians believe modern Easter traditions—including eggs, rabbits, and spring imagery—reflect the influence of older European seasonal customs that became associated with Christian celebrations over time.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent in many Christian traditions, especially within the Roman Catholic, Anglican, and some Protestant churches. The practice involves placing ashes on the forehead as a sign of repentance and mortality.
Those who prefer to follow the biblical feast days described in Leviticus 23 often observe:
Passover
Unleavened Bread
Feast of Firstfruits
Pentecost (Shavuot)
Trumpets
Day of Atonement
Tabernacles
They view these appointed times as prophetic celebrations pointing to the Messiah’s first and second coming.
Passages such as Deuteronomy 12 and Jeremiah 10 are often cited by believers who argue that worship should follow only the commands given by God and should avoid adopting pagan religious customs or practices.