Although the idea of a rabbit
laying eggs always baffled me, I never stopped to examine the origin of the
Easter Bunny. As a child, I was swept up
in the tradition of Easter baskets and the clever bunny that would deliver them.
And though I hate to admit it, I merely passed the practice along to my own
children without any true thought as to why we sustained the ritual. I regret
not knowing more about the history behind it.
So, for my children and any others who never knew …
In pre-Christian times, the
hare symbolized fertility. In Northern
Europe, Eostre was the goddess of fertility. (Note the similarity of our word, Easter) Legend tells us that Eostre cast a hare into
the sky and created the constellation Leper.
Once a year, Eostre empowered the hare to lay eggs.
It all sounds sketchy to
me! For those parents (like me) who were
clueless when their kids asked how a bunny could lay eggs - vindication!
So now I have an answer, but
it gives me the willies. This
discovery triggers my guilt - be it Catholic, Irish or maternal. Here we were, trying to be good Christian
parents; yet, we passed on a pagan ritual to our kids. OY!
Thankfully this one hasn’t
denied me sleep – yet. My kids would say, "Give it time. If mom doesn’t have something to worry about, she isn’t happy."
I find one redeeming aspect
to this whole bunny/egg issue - the
fertility thing. Is not our glorious
Easter Sunday but a rebirth of our lives in the Resurrection of Jesus? The symbolic fertility hare translates into
our renewal of life in Christ. And while
the pagans never intended to assume a place in Christian celebration, its very
meaning aligns with the beauty of Christ saving souls for new life in His Creation. While maybe a stretch, it is a reasonable explanation for parents who want to keep Christ in their Christian holidays.
Just a thought about the
Easter egg. I love the meanings hidden
in the gifting and the coloring of eggs.
This simple food makes a strong visual for Easter Sunday. The egg’s
outer shell represents the coffin or the entombment of Christ. The interior is the birth of new life. When we give eggs, we symbolically give Christ
to one another. When my children were
little, we adopted an activity that came from my husband’s childhood. Between the hours of 12 and 3 p.m., we would color
Easter eggs, as quietly as possible. It was a time of reverence and fun. Most people equate spring with bursts of
color and new growth. What better way to symbolize the emergence of new life
but in the shades of color on each Easter egg!
I will continue in some of our family bunny business, but I’m grateful to have a good history lesson to
share when “the birds and the bunnies” question comes up with the next
generation.
May the risen Lord renew us
all!
Hop on to EASTER JOY!
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