God Rebirth Festivals

Russian Maslenitsa celebrants.

We all know that early Christianity merged their holy celebrations with existing pagan rituals and that explains what bunnies laying colored eggs has to do with Roman authorities executing a Jewish preacher 2000 years ago.

Can you see the foreskin?

That may even go so far as the naked guy nailed on a cross. The cross was a phallic symbol long before it was an instrument of torture. According the the original Greek text, Jesus was executed on an upright stake (stauros) without a cross beam (see right). The cross, with its phallic symbolism, replaced the less erotic stake.

Of course, Spring is the season of resurrection and renewal which makes it perfect for celebrating the rebirth of a god.

That is why Spring festivals were held for the resurrection of the Semitic god Ba'al, for the Greek goddess Persephone, and the Egyptian god Osiris. Korea, Japan, and the Aztecs all had deities that were reborn in the Spring.