Easter is early this year, March 23rd, so if you want to get all your Easter Shopping, and plans made, keep that in mind.
First off the top, the Easter Bunny, isn't actually a boy, he is a woman.
The Goddess Eastre, as described in my article about The Easter Bunny, and Christianity. Here's why the Christian Holiday of Easter, and the Easter bunny are related. It talks about Eastre was the Goddess of Spring.
The symbol of the rabbit is actually a Pagan symbol, for the ancient Pagan celebration of Eastre. The Goddess, Eastre, was worshiped by Anglo-Saxons, and was known by her unique symbol, of the rabbit. The symbol of fertility and rebirth.
The Germans were actually the first country to recognize the rabbit as an Easter symbol, and spread Bunny Cheer throughout the world, including America. The Christians didn't recognize the Bunny as the Symbol of Easter for a long period after Easter was celebrated.
What about Easter Eggs?
How did Easter Eggs become part of the Easter tradition?
The Easter Eggs, like the Easter Bunny, predates the Christian Holiday of Easter. The exchange of eggs during the New Spring Celebration was an ancient tradition, which was practiced long before Christians celebrated Easter. Dating back in ancient times, the exchange of eggs was practiced through various cultures, as a symbol of rebirth. Noble families would wrap the eggs in gold leaf, and the peasants would boil and color the eggs with flowers and leaves, and offer them as gifts.
Today the tradition of the giving of eggs in early spring, on Easter, is still practiced as modern day children enjoy Easter egg hunts, and collecting eggs in their baskets. Families boil the eggs, and color them for the children to eat, and now eggs of course come in plastic, or chocolate.
That's how Easter, became a traditional celebration of The Resurrection of Christ, and the Celebration of Spring, and the symbol of rebirth and fertility, with the rabbit, Eastre, as the symbol.
How did Easter Egg Hunting become part of the Easter tradition?
That would be the Germans. The Germans, as far back as the early 1500s, recognized the Rabbit as a symbol of Easter, And during the 1800's, they celebrated the eating of edible Easter Bunnies. The Germans were masters in culinary arts, especially with chocolate and delicious sweets, the first edible bunnies were made from pastry and sugar.
When the Germans Settlers, known as Mennonites, or Amish, had settled in Dutch Country, Pennsylvania, in the 1700's, they had introduced their Easter traditions into the American Culture. Oschter Haws, was one of the greatest and most fun traditions for children, next to Christ-kindel on Christmas Eve. The children waited all year long for the Oschter Haws to come, and lay coloured eggs in their nest, so they were especially good behaved children, for fear he might not come.
The hunting of the eggs, also was part of the German tradition. As on the eve of Easter, the children would run around hiding nests. In the barn, around the yard, in their homes, with the hopes the Oschter Haws would come and lay eggs in the nest, which was usually a bonnet, or a cap. Easter morning, the children would eagerly jump from bed, to go on an Easter Egg hunt, finding colourful eggs filled inside their nests.
As time went on the tradition spread throughout the world, and children all over wake on Easter Morning, to go on Easter egg hunts, and fill their baskets with eggs. The baskets have been said to originate in England, with the Victoriana Period.
To learn more interesting facts about Easter, why not check out my article about Easter.
Article by: Sacreeta
