"Easter syncretism" with Paganism & 595 A.D.

Q: Why did they Blend the Resurrection with Paganism when Paul clearly states: Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,... 2 Corinthians 6:17

"In AD 595, 40 Roman monks were sent by Pope Gregory to England with the assignment of converting the Anglo Saxons to

Christianity......led by a Benedictine called Augustine, prior of St Andrew’s monastery in Rome (and later the first Archbishop of Canterbury).

Under the Pope’s instructions, the 40 missionaries convinced the pagan Britons to integrate their ancient celebrations with Christian festivities, where both festival calendars coincided. 

But knowing that the pagans were unlikely to simply drop their beliefs and embrace Jesus overnight, he instead gave a blueprint for conversion through coercion. 

Pope Gregory instructed his missionaries to embrace, rather than reject, local pagan customs in order to make Christianity more palatable for the potential converts. 

Over time, Christian symbols and messages were worked into these long-standing traditions, a form of syncretism. Christianity became ubiquitous, and knowingly or not, the pagans slowly became Christians. Similar to Christmas and Halloween, 

Christians attempted to blend elements of pagan religion with Christian tradition, 

in order to make the message of Christianity more palpable to those of other religions."
Catholic365