What does the Easter Bunny have to do with Jesus?

In fact, the rabbit was the symbol of Eostra—the pagan Germanic goddess of spring and fertility. In other words, the Christian holiday of Easter, which celebrated the resurrection of Jesus, became superimposed on pagan traditions that celebrated rebirth and fertility.

What is the story behind Easter Bunny and eggs?

According to some sources, the Easter bunny first arrived in America in the 1700s with German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania and transported their tradition of an egg-laying hare called “Osterhase” or “Oschter Haws.” Their children made nests in which this creature could lay its colored eggs.

Where did the tradition of Easter eggs come from?

According to many sources, the Christian custom of Easter eggs was adopted from Persian tradition into the early Christians of Mesopotamia, who stained them with red colouring “in memory of the blood of Christ, shed at His crucifixion”.

Why do we give and receive Easter eggs?

Easter comes after Lent, with the bible saying that Christ died on the cross on Good Friday before coming back to life three days later. For Christians, giving eggs around Easter time is a way of celebrating new life. The shell of the egg is thought to represent the tomb, while the chick represents Jesus.

Is the Easter Bunny evil?

Although traditions like the Easter bunny and Easter egg hunts seem as harmless as believing in Santa Claus, they actually have a significant association with pagan worship and rituals from the past.

What does rabbit has to do with Easter?

Rabbits usually give birth to a big litter of babies (called kittens), so they became a symbol of new life. Legend has it that the Easter Bunny lays, decorates and hides eggs as they are also a symbol of new life. This is why some children might enjoy Easter egg hunts as part of the festival.

What does the bunny symbolize?

The rabbit as well as the hare have been associated with moon deities and may signify rebirth or resurrection. They may also be symbols of fertility or sensuality, and they appear in depictions of hunting and spring scenes in the Labours of the Months.

What does the word Easter mean in the Bible?

Given the symbolism of new life and rebirth, it was only natural to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus at this time of the year. Bede was so influential for later Christians that the name stuck, and hence Easter remains the name by which the English, Germans and Americans refer to the festival of Jesus’ resurrection.

Is the Easter bunny real in real life?

Is the Easter bunny real? While there is no actual bunny that once was the iconic hare, the legendary egg-laying rabbit is said to have been brought to America by German immigrants in the 1700s, according to History. As mentioned, children would make nests for Oschter Haws to leave behind eggs.

What do eggs symbolize in Easter?

The egg itself became a symbol of the Resurrection. Just as Jesus rose from the tomb, the egg symbolized new life emerging from the eggshell. In the Orthodox tradition, eggs are painted red to symbolize the blood that Jesus shed on the cross.

Why do we call it Easter?

Why Is Easter Called ‘Easter’? St. Bede the Venerable, the 6 century author of Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum (“Ecclesiastical History of the English People”), maintains that the English word “Easter” comes from Eostre, or Eostrae, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring and fertility.

What happened on the Easter Sunday?

During Holy Week, Christians recall the events leading up to Jesus’ death by crucifixion and, according to their faith, his Resurrection. Easter Sunday is the celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection, according to the Gospels, on the third day after his crucifixion.

Why do we eat chocolate at Easter?

During the six weeks before Easter, known as Lent, Christians abstained from consuming animal products. This included all dairy and eggs. The modern tradition of eating chocolate eggs at Easter is a fun twist on the religious ritual, and makes it more accessible to children and those of a non-religious disposition.