The Timeless Festival - Yesterday & Today

Pesach, commonly known in English as the Passover, has a history that could pre-date the time of Exodus.  An argument could be made that this festival(s) may be the oldest in the world, and pre-dates the rituals that were added to it.  Pesach, as we know it, appears to be the merging of two ancient spring festivals celebrated by shepherd's and farmers.  This ancient celebration included a freedom from bondage and a hopeful anticipation of what is to come.     

The ancient shepherd's festival included slaughtering a lamb to appease God for the upcoming lambing season.  The ancient agricultural festival celebrated the farmer's freedom - no longer being a slave to his land.  He has toiled in the fields for six months (Sukkot-Pesach), caring for the land without seeing any fruits for his labor, then comes Pesach.  It is around this time that the field is transformed and the farmer reaps his reward.