History of Easter
Spring is in the air. I can feel it. And so can the retailers. I noticed that Easter candy is on prominent display at the supermarket. It got me wondering about the origin of the Easter Bunny. There certainly is no mention of a big rabbit delivering candy and decorated eggs in the Bible. So how did the idea of the Easter Bunny get started?
Many of the traditions associated with religious holidays, like Christmas and Easter, have their roots in pagan customs. Rabbits are an ancient symbol of fertility and new life. The word "Easter" comes from Eastre (or Eostre) who was celebrated as the goddess of spring by the Saxons of Northern Europe. The Saxons held an Eastre festival during the spring equinox to honor the goddess, whose earthly symbol was the rabbit.
In ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, and Persia, eggs were dyed for spring festivals. In medieval Europe, beautifully decorated eggs were commonly given as gifts.
The idea of the Easter Bunny first arrived in America in the 1700s with German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania and brought their tradition of an egg-laying hare called "Osterhase" or "Oschter Haws." According to the legend, the mystical creature brought brightly colored eggs to children who had prepared nests in advance. Eventually the idea spread throughout America, with the hare changing to a rabbit and the colored eggs expanding to egg-shaped candy and other goodies.
Happy Easter to you and your family! If the spring finds you in the market for buying or selling a home, please keep me in mind. I would enjoy working with you again.
History of Easter
Comments(5)