| As we celebrate Easter and Passover, have you ever
wondered about the symbols of the Easter Bunny, Easter eggs and life
after death? Celebrated since the beginning of time, the Easter
Bunny and Easter eggs have long been a symbol of fertility, new life and
spring arriving. The Easter bunny, according to "The History of the
Easter Egg" by Joe Miller, tells of its origin from pre-Christian
fertility lore. The Hare and the Rabbit were the most fertile animals
known and they served as symbols of the new life during the spring
season.
The Easter Bunny got its origins in Germany, where it was first
mentioned in German writings in the 1500's. The first edible Easter
bunnies were made also in Germany during the early 1800s and were made
of pastry and sugar. The bunny was introduced to American folklore
by the German settlers who arrived in the PA Dutch country during the
1700s. The arrival of the Oschter Haws was considered childhood's
greatest pleasure. The children believed that if they were good, the
Oschter Haws would lay a nest of colored eggs.
The children would build their nest in a secluded place in their
home, the barn, or the garden. The use of elaborate Easter baskets would
come later, as the tradition of the Easter bunny spread throughout the
country.
During the Celtic time, the German people honored the arrival of
spring by giving each other eggs that were dyed red. The eggs were
shared at a special feast and then the shells were carefully crushed, a
ritual to drive away winter. They were also hung in evergreens to
symbolize rebirth and renewal.
With such customs firmly in place and well known, it was logical that
the early Christians would adopt the dyed egg as a symbol of Jesus'
resurrection and the rebirth of man. They saw the egg also as a symbol
of the tomb from which Jesus rose. And so, the egg continued as an
appropriate spring gift.
SOURCE
- Article by Joe D'Angelo |
