TO: Campus Community
FR: Jerlena Griffin-Desta, Ph.D., Chief of Staff, Vice President Strategic Initiatives and Diversity
One of the most important facets of a diverse, equity, and inclusive campus community is the understanding of and respect for different cultural histories and traditions. Culture itself is a complex array of factors, including ethnic heritage, geography, language, food, gender roles, and faith traditions, among many others. And while we readily discuss cultural aspects like food, language, geography, and ethnicity, we often tend to avoid faith traditions, despite their importance to so many people. Indeed, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will sponsor an occasional educational series on different faith and cultural traditions, hoping to spark discussion and dialogue to counter a narrative currently being used in our country to foment division and hate. This month we focus on Easter, with Yom Kippur to come in September, and possibly other faith traditions in between.
Easter is a holiday and a holy day, and its origins stretch back to pagan observances. Even the word is an echo of Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon pagan goddess of spring, and renewal is woven into both the secular and spiritual aspects of Easter. Rabbits (or hares, as they were then known) were associated with Eostre because of their reputation for fertility, and during the Middle Ages, eggs were decorated and then eaten to break the Lenten fast. Not surprisingly, the commercial popularity of greeting cards and chocolate rabbits in the 19th century cemented the indelible association of Easter with bunnies, eggs, and candy.
But as a holy day, Easter in many ways defines the core values of Christianity, as well as retroactively serving as its founding event. Since Christianity did not technically exist until after the death and resurrection of Jesus, its foundations lie in other faith traditions, namely pagan and Jewish, as it occurs during and evolved from the Jewish Passover. The narrative of Easter has largely been reconstructed retrospectively through Biblical passages, and includes Jesus being betrayed by Judas (Wednesday), hosting the Last Supper (Thursday), being hanged on a cross to die (Friday), descending to Hades to liberate condemned souls (Saturday), and then being resurrected as divine spirit (Easter Sunday). The transformation of Jesus to Christ is the heart of Christianity and the promise of redemption and salvation for each follower of the faith.
The themes of sacrifice, repentance, and renewal echo throughout the Biblical narrative of Easter, and are further embedded in its secular practices, allowing Christians and people from other faith traditions to recognize Easter and its opportunity for reflection, atonement, and renewal. This year is special because it marks the crossover of Ramadan, Passover, and Easter, an event that occurs only once every 30 years, and provides an opportunity for more peaceful interfaith engagement.
Whether or not everyone is aware of the traditions, origins, and wide array of Easter practices, we can all share in the opportunity to celebrate the coming of spring, reflect on our own relationships, including the harms we may have perpetrated, and determine to do better. We can prepare ourselves for the renewal of spring, the excitement of celebrating the completion of finals and upcoming Commencement, for example. These practices and recognitions add to the robustness of our Beloved Community at SSU!
To all in our Sonoma State community who celebrate Easter, we wish you a weekend of peaceful reflection and the lovely sweetness of a chocolate bunny or two.