Easter is the celebration of the end of death, and rebirth of Jesus Christ. Unlike other holidays, Easter has been known as a movable holiday, as it doesn’t fall on a set date but is observed anywhere between March 22 and April 25.
Today Easter has become associated with cute fuzzy bunnies and egg hunting. Although there is no mention of these traditions in the bible, they have been around for centauries now. You may wonder how these traditions have become so ingrained in Easter Sunday what they have to do with resurrection of Jesus.
Interestingly there is no connection between bunnies and Easter. The exact origins of these bunnies is unclear, but rabbits are known to be the symbol of rabbit and fertility and new life and the Easter hunt began because children believed that rabbits laid eggs in the grass. A study states that the origin of Easter bunny goes back to the 13th century when pre- Christian Germans worshipped Goddess Eostra, the goddess of fertility and springs. Her symbol was rabbit because of the rabbit’s high reproduction rate.
The first Easter Bunny legend was documented in the 1500s. By 1680, the first story about a rabbit laying eggs and hiding them in a garden was published. These legends were brought to the United States in the 1700s, when German immigrants settled in Pennsylvania. This made way for many other traditions like making nests for the rabbit to lay its eggs in soon. Eventually, nests became decorated baskets and colorful eggs were swapped for candy, treats and other small gifts.
So, while you’re relishing on chocolate bunnies and marshmallow chicks this Easter Sunday, don’t forget this holiday’s origins and maybe even impress your friends at your local Easter egg hunt.
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