Even the unbelievers know the origin of ishtar / easter. The bible says easter is babylonian and G-d is angry when Ancient Israel celebrated it. It is still observed by pagans in their fertility rituals.
weeping for tammuz - 40 days of lent
Ezekiel 8:14 Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD's house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.
hot cross buns --- honey cakes for tammuz (and his mother - which is celebrated at the same time - read below)
Jeremiah 7:18 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.
sunrise service at the Holy Temple - ishtar sunrise service
Ezekiel 8:16 And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD's house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.
Messiah Yeshua celebrated Passover and was executed during Passover --- which is sometimes a month different that ishtar (ishtar is based on the first sunday after spring's first full moon - very pagan)
http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/origin-of-easter.htm
Origin of Easter - Its Pagan Roots
The origin of Easter dates back to ancient times, not long after the global Flood recorded in Genesis 6-9 of the Bible. Nimrod, a grandson of Noah, had turned from following his grandfather's God and had become a tyrannical ruler. According to the biblical record, as king, Nimrod created Babel, Ninevah, Asshur, Calla and other cities, all known for lifestyles that promoted unspeakable evil and perversion. When Nimrod died, his wife, Queen Semiramis, deified him as the Sun-god, or Life Giver. Later he would become known as Baal, and those who followed the religion Semiramis created in his name would be called Baal worshippers. They became associated with idolatry, demon worship, human sacrifice and other practices regarded as evil.
The origin of Easter involves the birth of Semiramis' illegitimate son, Tammuz. Somehow, Semiramis convinced the people that Tammuz was actually Nimrod reborn. Since people had been looking for the promised savior since the beginning of mankind (see Genesis 3:15), they were persuaded by Semiramis to believe that Tammuz was that savior, even that he had been supernaturally conceived. Before long, in addition to worshipping Tammuz (or Nimrod reborn), the people also worshipped Semiramis herself as the goddess of fertility. In other cultures, she has been called Ishtar, Ashtur and yes, Easter.
The origin of Easter goes back to the springtime ritual instituted by Semiramis following the death of Tammuz, who, according to tradition, was killed by a wild boar. Legend has it that through the power of his mother's tears, Tammuz was "resurrected" in the form of the new vegetation that appeared on the earth.
According to the Bible, it was in the city of Babel that the people created a tower in order to defy God. Up until that time, all the people on the earth spoke one language. The building of the tower led God, as recorded in Genesis 11:7, to confuse their tongues to keep them from being further unified in their false beliefs. As the people moved into other lands, many of them took their pagan practices with them.
Contemporary traditions such as the Easter Bunny and the Easter egg can also be traced back to the practices established by Semiramis. Because of their prolific nature, rabbits have long been associated with fertility and its goddess, Ishtar. Ancient Babylonians believed in a fable about an egg that fell into the Euphrates River from heaven and from which Queen Astarte (another name for Ishtar or Semiramis) was "hatched."
------------------------------------------------
http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/nov2008/frankm1125-1.htm
Frank R Molver (25 Nov 2008)
"spring has sprung, christian feast question"
Well if we think of the day of atonement and the feast of tabernacles it would seem to apply to the Jews. Their priest sacrifices for the Jewish nation. However as we think about the rest of us, including the Jews we thing of Easter as the great day of celebration, the day our sins were forgiven and the day that Jesus rose from the dead. So to me I am thinking this word applies to Easter time and perhaps pentecost.
-------------------------------------------
Exposing false prophets and false prophecies of those who call themselves Christians
