EASTER: The Bunny and The Egg
Ever wonder why there's an "Easter Bunny"? Ever wonder why he
brings eggs? And dyed ones at that!
The Rabbit and the Hare, because of their frequent multiple
births, are long time symbols of fertility. According to
pre-Christian fertility lore, long before Jesus Christ was born,
the Easter Bunny, aka the Easter Hare, represented the new life
during the Spring season.
Children of that era believed that the "Magic Hare" would bring
them presents during the Spring festivals. Often, these presents
were painted eggs, symbolizing a resurrection or rebirth.
In fact, the Egyptians buried eggs in tombs while Greeks placed
eggs on top of graves. The Persians and the Chinese considered
the egg to be a special gift at their Spring celebrations.
As part of a gift wrapping tradition, different cultures
decorated eggs by either dying them or wrapping them in
different types of leaves. In 1880's Germany, Easter eggs were
substituted for birth certificates. The egg, dyed a solid color,
had the recipient's name and birth date etched into the shell.
Later, during the Christian period, many eggs were dyed red.
It's believed that this was done to honor the blood that Christ
shed.
In England, children rolled eggs down hills on Easter mornings
as a game. This signified the rolling away of the rock from
Jesus' tomb when he was resurrected. This custom was brought to
the New World by British settlers.
And now, in present times, the tradition of the Easter egg roll,
or hunt, continues on city hall and church lawns. In
Washington,D.C., the annual Egg Roll is sponsored by the wife of
the current President for children at the White House.
So, as a Latin proverb goes, "All life comes from an egg." And,
in the words of a famous T.V. commercial: "Cluck! Cluck! Easter
Bunny!"
Happy Easter!
MORE ABOUT THE EASTER BUNNY
http://www.holidays.net/easter/bunny1.htm
SEND A VIRTUAL EASTER BASKET
http://www.billybear4kids.com/post/basket/maker.htm
HOW TO DYE EASTER EGGS
http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/easter/food_color.htm
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