why do we associate easter with a bunny?

Answer 1

In anchient Greek society the rabbit was the symbol for fertility since they have lots of baby rabbits. The word Easter comes from the Greek ASTARTE (also known as Eshtart), the godess of fertility. The practice of coloring and hiding eggs and the use of rabbits (bunnies) as a symbol of Easter were common practice in the worship of Astarte. Somehow this has survived the years and, unfortunately, became associated with the day we celebrate the ressurection of Jesus.

Answer 2

The bunny took Christ out Easter, like Santa Claus did out of Christmas. The bunny and Santa are alright as long as we don't forget the real reason for the season

Answer 3

It has to do with the Pagan fertility rights associated with spring.

The Jewish holiday of Passover is celebrated near the same time each year. Christians celebrate Christ's triumphant rise from the grave.

As many pagans were converted religiously is was also important to convert them culturally. Pagan holidays were hijacked and replaced with Christian ones, but often remnants of them remained.

Easter is actually an adaptation of the name of a fertility Goddess of spring named Eoster. Her symbols included the rabbit and the egg. Both potent symbols of fertility.

However as pagans accepted the truth of Christ they switched to accepting the Rebirth of Christ from the Tomb, and the worship of the lamb instead.

But we still have eggs, and bunny's at "Easter".
Just like we have a "Christmas" Tree for Noel.

Answer 4

Easter, also known as Passover and Pascha, the Feast of the Resurrection, "the Sunday of the Resurrection", or "Resurrection Day", is the most important religious feast of the Christian liturgical year, observed between late March and late April (early April to early May in Eastern Christianity). It celebrates the resurrection of Jesus, which occurred after his death by crucifixion in AD 27-33 (see Good Friday). In the Catholic Church Easter is actually an eight-day feast called the Octave of Easter.

Easter also refers to the season of the church year, lasting for fifty days, from Easter Sunday through Pentecost. (see Easter Season)

Answer 5

The rabbit was long used a symbol in spring festivals before Christianity was ever founded.

In Ancient Egypt and Asia, the rabbit was hailed as a symbol of fertility and renewal (probably because of its quick and frequent breeding). This belief continued over the years, and the rabbit was incorporated as a symbol into many early pagan fertility festivals, frequently taking place in the springtime when the land was more "fertile" and ready for planting.These pagan festivals were often celebrated in worship of a Celtic/Saxon goddess, Eastre (sometimes Oestre, Eostre, etc.).

This brings us to our next link in the long chain. Early Christian missionaries wanted Christianity to appear attractive and welcoming to pagans, whom they were trying to convert, so they incorporated many beliefs of the pagans into the formation of the European tradition. The resurrection, according to common theologic belief, occurred around the same time as this springtime festival of fertility, so the two holidays were merged into Easter; the symbol of the rabbit came along as well, of course, since the holiday was meant to mimick the one the pagans had been celebrating.

That is to say, in short, that we associate Easter with a bunny because it is an ancient symbol of springtime fertility.

If you want to know why the bunny delivers eggs, too, it became associated with them in the Middle Ages (as another symbol of rebirth and fertility). The practice of making chocolate bunnies and decorated eggs originated in Germany. If you want to read more detail on any of this, of course, check my sources.

Answer 6

Rabbits and eggs are both symbols of the fertility goddess Eostre/Easter/Ishtar/Ostara. Her photo is likewise the moon, in which some cultures see a rabbit particularly of a face. Eggs also represent the moon and are the perfect photo of introduction and new existence. The basket is an sort of the womb in which this new existence is carried. there's a brilliant legend about the moon goddess Eostre, in which she got here across a lack of life chicken. to save its existence, she grew to develop into it excellent right into a rabbit, her optimal effective photo. It lived yet persevered to placed eggs. In gratitude for its existence, the rabbit resources her different eggs each and each and in line with annum. The dinner social gathering day is pagan and develop into significantly celebrated way before the time of Jesus. Like fairly plenty all holidays, it develop into observed by technique of Christians to help get more desirable converts. as well the undeniable undeniable reality that, because the point is to have a good time new existence and the choose of continuance, Christian symbols of a Resurrection day and the former pagan symbols recommend an same ingredient. equivalent to Christmas, we are all celebrating an same ingredient, truly utilising different symbols.

Answer 7

It's marketing and taking Jesus out of Easter. A stupid bunny and candy has NOTHING with the Resurrection of Jesus. Some people wanted to make money and started this tradition.

Answer 8

As I know there was a Goddess named "Estera" represented like a bunny who lays an egg. There was no connection except the same period of the year for the both feasts. It has not a Christian origin this symbol.

Answer 9

Because spring is the time of new life and bunnies are excellent at providing new life. Has nothing to do with Christianity. How does chocolate relate to Jesus dying on the cross?

Answer 10

Why do we associate Christmas with a fat guy who lives in the North Pole?

To ask what you did is to raise that question for just about every other holiday, so I think it's better not knowing.