But Easter is also a celebration of Christ's resurrection, two days after Good Friday. Easter is also linked to the Jewish Passover: The Last Supper is linked to the Passover Seder, and Christ with the Passover lambs. Even the Latin word for Easter, Pascha, derives from the Hebrew Pesach, for Passover.
Both celebrations also symbolize new beginnings, and like many springtime festivals, Easter derives from pagan roots. The ancient Saxons celebrated the return of spring with a festival commemorating their goddess of offspring and of springtime, Eastre, or Ēostre. Christian missionaries took aspects of the pagan traditions--since the holiday coincided with the Christian observance of the Resurrection of Christ--and folded them into Christian observances. The early name, Eastre, eventually became Easter.
But where does the Easter Bunny come in?
The hare was closely linked to the goddess Eastre in pagan times. The hare, similar to a rabbit, is a symbol of fertility--the renewal of life that comes with the warmer weather of spring. Hence, the Easter Bunny. Eggs, too, are a symbol of rebirth.
Many early Christians colored their Easter eggs red to symbolize the resurrection of Christ, or green to symbolize the new foliage after the barren winter. Also, eggs were forbidden during Lent, and therefore abundant for Easter. Parents told their children the magic hare--rabbit--would bring them gifts at the spring festival--often painted eggs
The Easter Bunny first came to be tied to our modern Easter in 16th century Germany, where it was first mentioned in German writings. The first Easter Bunnies, made in Germany during the early 1800s, were made of pastry and sugar. Children made nests of grass in their yards, so the Easter Bunny would fill them with brightly-colored eggs during the night. German settlers to Pennsylvania Dutch country introduced the Easter Bunny to America in the 1700's. The arrival of the "Oschter Haws" was considered "childhood's greatest pleasure" next to a visit from Christ-Kindel on Christmas Eve. The children believed that if they were good the "Oschter Haws" would lay a nest of colored eggs.
Have you been good this year?
Happy Easter!
Easter--religious roots--Wiki
Easter traditions
Easter origins
Easter Bunny--Wiki
Easter Bunny History
Easter Email Cards
Easter Clipart
Easter cards to print
Easter printables for kids
Tips for coloring eggs
Easter coloring pages
Personalized Letters from the Easter Bunny--An Enchanted Letter
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