Sunday, April 20, 2025

Paschal lamb

Most of my adult life I've heard the word paschal at Easter, and I've read it and heard it and knew it was connected to Easter, but it didn't sound like Latin or Greek or German like many English words, so I decided to look it up this morning before we left for church (early service 8:15 at Windermere School because our building still isn't ready!).

"The word "paschal" comes from the Latin word "paschalis," which in turn comes from the Greek word "paskha," meaning "Passover." The Greek word "paskha" is derived from the Hebrew word "pesakh," which means "to pass over." "

That makes sense. It sounds like Passover and I know that word, so that will help. Still, it's a bit vague. Let's look at a different etymological entry.

paschal(adj.)

"of or pertaining to Passover or Easter," early 15c., from Old French paschal (12c.) and directly from Late Latin paschalis, from pascha "Passover, Easter," from Greek pascha "Passover," from Aramaic (Semitic) pasha "pass over," corresponding to Hebrew pesah, from pasah "he passed over" (see Passover). Pasche was an early Middle English term for "Easter" (see Easter), and the older Dutch form of the word, Paas, was retained in New York."

So now we're back to Aramaic and we've got some Dutch.  I do remember Paas being a brand name for the dye we had for coloring eggs. And a few more helpful tips from that website, etymonline.com to tie it all together and I hope I remember this next Easter. 

Passover

"annual Jewish feast instituted to commemorate the escape from Egypt, 1530, coined by Tyndale from verbal phrase pass over, to translate Hebrew ha-pesah "Passover," from pesah (see paschal), in reference to the Lord "passing over" the houses of the Israelites in Egypt when he killed the first-born of the Egyptians (Exodus xii). By extension including the following seven days during which the Israelites were permitted to eat only unleavened bread.

Pasch

"Easter," also "Passover," early 12c., Pasche, Paske; see paschal. Now archaic. Pasch-egg "Easter egg" is from 1570s.


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