Easter question

[Zink]

I'm normal quite good with useless information but I was just asked something that I don't know the answer for. What is the significance of the Easter bunny and why is it our symbol for easter? Pasha(easter) was this weekend in Russia and my girlfriend wants to know. I don't have time to do a search right now so I'm asking here. Any suggestions?

[Jeff S]

... in response to Easter question, posted by Zink on Apr 29, 2003

Yes, as the poster below elaborates, Easter isn't the actual ressurection of Christ anniversary, it is the addition of Christian beliefs into a pre-existing celestial based celebration, the vernal equinox (first day of spring or time of year as the sun's zeineth passes the equator and the langth of day and night are equal.) Christmas is also a case of Christian significance being introduced to a celestial celebration, the winter solstace, when the sun is farthest south and the days the shortest in the northern hemisphere. Christmas trees and easter bunnies pre-date the christian symbols in these celebrations.

[tfcrew]

... in response to Re: Easter question, posted by Jeff S on Apr 29, 2003

Another fertility symbol.
Actually, according to the Bible, Jesus wasn't executed on Friday nor did He resurrect on Sunday (the day of the sun.. the pagan sabbath).

[MNKenr]

... in response to Easter question, posted by Zink on Apr 29, 2003

As it turns out, the Easter bunny has a long history as a pagan symbol that predates the Christian holiday. In fact, our sources suggest that early Christians purposefully co-opted the pagan hare to popularize their own holiday.

Quite a few pagan cultures hold celebrations in the spring. It's the time of year when plants return to life after being dormant all winter and when animals mate and procreate. These festivities celebrate the renewal of life and promote the fertility of crops, animals, and even people, which was important in these agrarian communities. The Saxons believed in a maiden goddess of fertility named Eastre or Eostre (Oestre in Latin) and honored her with a spring festival. Hares and rabbits were considered sacred to Eastre because they are notoriously fertile animals.

In the second century A.D., Christian missionaries tried to convert northern European tribes. To help make Christianity attractive, the missionaries turned pagan festivals into Christian holidays. The pagan Eastre festival occurred around the same time as the Christian celebration marking Christ's resurrection so the two celebrations blended into one, rabbit and all.

Over time, Eastre became Easter, and the symbolism changed as well. Instead of the Easter rabbit symbolizing fertility, the rabbit may symbolize an innocent, vulnerable creature that can be sacrificed, similar to the lamb. To Christians, these innocents are tokens of Christ and the sacrifice he made.

The Easter bunny we know today was influenced by German traditions dating back to the 1500s. German children believed that the Oschter Haws (a magical rabbit) would leave them a nest of colored eggs at Eastertime if they were good. Pennsylvania Dutch settlers brought this tradition to America in the 1700s.

Hope this helps. I did not know the answer myself and discovered there is rich history involved.

MNKenr

[Zink]

... in response to Quick Answer, posted by MNKenr on Apr 29, 2003

The information has been passed along.