Why do Xians eat lamb at Easter?

[amyrose2712]

Kind morbid if you ask me. Just sayin.

[trotsky]

1. They do?

We always had ham for Easter when I was growing up (Lutheran). And Jello.

[amyrose2712]

2. Well, we did and I just looked it up and...

http://homecooking.about.com/od/foodhistory/a/easterfoodhist.htm

"The roast lamb dinner that many eat on Easter Sunday goes back earlier than Easter to the first Passover of the Jewish people. The sacrificial lamb was roasted and eaten, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs (see Passover Seder) in hopes that the angel of God would pass over their homes and bring no harm. As Hebrews converted to Christianity, they naturally brought along their traditions with them. The Christians often refer to Jesus as The Lamb of God. Thus, the traditions merged. "

[laconicsax]

3. Wow, that's a pretty inaccurate description of Passover.

Not that it really makes a difference to the whole, "Christianity is just a collection of co-opted myths and traditions" part.

Keeping in mind it's all fiction, the only part of the Seder that has to do with the "passing over" bit is the lamb shank. The rest of it is either symbolic or taken from a different part of the narrative.

[TZ]

6. Well the last supper is a Passover Seder

So the lamb at Easter does make sense as a small nod to that traditon. But as seen below not everyone does it. Especially as many people won't even admit that Jesus was Jewish....

[amyrose2712]

7. I just think its kinda weird that Jebus is the lamb of god and all nt

[Taverner]

20. Yes, If I remember everyone just looked at the lamb shank

We were stuck with matzos and gefelte fish for what felt like forever

[Deep13]

4. I never did. It was usually ham. nt

[realisticphish]

5. yeah, we never did either

always ham or maybe chicken

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. It's just family traditions

Many people here have said they ate ham in a Christian household; I ate whatever would be a good meal that might give plenty of leftovers (since Easter Monday is a public holiday in Britain, and, 30 years ago, supermarkets didn't open on it). Large chicken, even a small turkey, might be typical.

[salvorhardin]

9. Advertising also had an effect

In the U.S. in the 1930s, there was a concerted advertising campaign to promote ham as the traditional centerpiece of the Easter dinner. Precooked hams had just been introduced to the market at the time, and by associating them with a popular religious holiday, advertisers were able to ensure greater sales.

[amyrose2712]

10. Interesting. nt

[darkstar3]

11. Interesting.

Given that Easter is really just a Passover Seder, which is stranger? Ham, or lamb?

[salvorhardin]

12. I think it depends where you live

Ham made sense in the UK and US before the 20th C. because by the time Easter rolls around in the Spring, you've eaten just about everything in the cellar from the Fall harvest. Ham takes many months to cure so if you put it up in the Fall, it's just ready by Easter.

However,if you live in the Mediterranean or Middle East, then lamb makes more sense, especially because your dietary laws say no pork and why not eat the lamb you just sacrificed?

[SkyDaddy7]

13. Eating PORK at Passover...

is also a way Christians try to separate themselves from the Jews...I laugh because if Jesus were to actually return he would not have a clue who the Christians were at all! LOL!

Not to mention the fact most Christians in America support almost across the board EVERYTHING Jesus was against!

[Iggo]

14. Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

If you eat the lamb you just sacrificed, where's the sacrifice?

Know'm say'n?:P

[salvorhardin]

15. c.f. Korban Pesach

...also known as the "Paschal Lamb" is the sacrifice that the Torah mandates to be brought on the eve of Passover, and eaten on the first night of the holiday with bitter herbs and matzo. According to the Torah, it was first offered on the night of the Israelites' Exodus from Egypt. Although practiced by Jews in ancient times, the ritual is no longer performed today.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korban_Pesach

[Iggo]

16. Well, Glory be.

The funk's on me.

[Deep13]

17. They're easy to catch. nt

[charlie]

18. Every week they're teased

with meat and blood, then get handed a cracker and grape. After a year of that, some of them are going to have a powerful hankering for Baby Jesus Back Ribs.

[awoke_in_2003]

19. Great...

now I got Fat Bastard from Austin Powers singing "Chili's baby back ribs" going through my head.

[amyrose2712]

21. That made me giggle. n/t

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

22. This thread gave me a craving for lamb with mint sauce. Yum.

[marybourg]

23. Because that's when there ARE lambs to eat (they're born in the

spring).

[realisticphish]

24. touche, salesman