I've just always wonder about that.
2007-03-23 05:37:57 · 33 answers · asked by dragonflyrivers 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Rabbits and eggs are both symbols of the fertility goddess Eostre. Her symbol is also the moon, in which some cultures see a rabbit instead of a face. Eggs also symbolize the moon and are the ultimate symbol of creation and new life. The basket is a symbol of the womb in which this new life is carried.
The feast day is pagan and was widely celebrated way before the time of Jesus. Like pretty much all holidays, it was adopted by Christians to help get more converts. However, since the point is to celebrate new life and the hope of continuance, Christian symbols of a Resurrection day and the old pagan symbols mean the same thing. Just like Christmas, we are all celebrating the same thing, just using different symbols.
2007-03-23 05:40:41 · answer #1 · answered by KC 7 · 8⤊ 2⤋
Rabbits and eggs are symbols of fertility and the pre-christian pagans had fertility rites in spring to welcome a return to life after the long, cold, hard, killing winter.
Christians had to incorporate a lot of these pagan customs and superstitions in order to convert people (they liked those spring time orgies!). That's why Easter is celebrated when it is, and why the date changes every year - it's aligned with the earth's calendar.
That's also why Jesus was supposedly resurrected at that time - to clearly illustrate the life-giving properties the early Christians hoped to convince the pagans that belief in Jesus would impart.
It didn't work too well until the Roman Emperor Constantine (who's mom was a Christian, a cultish religion at the time with a small, but devoted following) converted and decreed that Christianity would be the state religion.
2007-03-23 05:54:29 · answer #2 · answered by Wonderland 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
That was some of the paganism that crept into the early church by the 4th century. The early church leaders could not devote so much time in keeping doctrinal teachings pure-they were far too busy trying to stay alive. Constantine made Christianity legal around 312. The second emperor after him made Christianity the state religion around 365 (?). Many pagan rituals were combined with Christian rituals about that time which completely polluted the church. Christmas and Easter are out two most paganistic holidays. Although we celebrate them for a different reason-they are still "Satanic" in origin.
2007-03-23 05:49:26 · answer #3 · answered by Mr Marc 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Og like rabbit but hard to catch. Can I get a rabbit for becoming this resurrected Christ?
2007-03-23 06:22:03 · answer #4 · answered by og_i_og 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think back in the "day", people thought that religion and christianity, was to gory and violent for little children-hence - Peter Rabbit. I read somewhere that, back in the "day" in Britain, no one could speak against the Monarchy, upon pain of death. So some people started writing fairy tales and nursery rhymes (Mother Goose), which seemed quite innocuous on the surface, but were really telling tales about the Monarchy. The same goes for Santa Claus and the big fat rabbit. So everything is not as it appears on the surface upon closer inspection.
2007-03-23 05:57:12 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I like to look at it this way: A rabbit that goes around handing out painted chicken eggs once a year is no more or less ridiculous than the idea that a man was brought back from the dead over 2000 years ago.
2007-03-23 05:47:55 · answer #6 · answered by boukenger 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its something that a lot of companies have done to make more money, just like what does Santa clause have to do with the real meaning of Christmas? A lot of people don't celebrate Easter as Christ resurrection, but as a day to hide eggs.
2007-03-23 05:46:56 · answer #7 · answered by teresa o 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It isn't synonymous with the resurrection in any way at all. It's a tradition that goes along WITH the observance of Easter, for the same reason Santa Claus goes with Christmas. It's a secular way of celebrating a religious holiday. Both rabbits and eggs symbolize renewal of life (rabbits because they are so prolific, and eggs because they are, well, eggs.) in pagan rituals---and all Christian holidays are associated with pagan observances -- that was done by early Christians to get people to adopt them. That's why Easter comes in the spring (the vernal equinox) and why Christmas comes in the winter (the winter solstice).
2007-03-23 05:41:34 · answer #8 · answered by MOM KNOWS EVERYTHING 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Right on, the only thing I can come up with is, it's like Santa clause at Christmas time. It is a tool to get young kids interested in the season, There were times when they needed a hope, Santa was their hope at Christmas and a chance to teach them about Jesus., and His birth.
The Easter Bunny, and the hiding of the eggs, got them interested in learning about the death, burial, and Resurrection of Jesus.
2007-03-23 07:56:08 · answer #9 · answered by Auburn 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Christians attempted to co-opt some pre-existing Pagan holidays, traditionally celebrated at winter solstice and spring. Many of the symbols from those holidays have continued, and people will continue to debate forever whether the Christmas tree and Easter bunny have anything to do with Christianity. Obviously, bunnies and eggs are symbols of fertility, which is what spring represents. The Easter Bunny has nothing to do with the religious holiday that coincides with the ancient celebrations of the rites of spring, but who would want to take the fun out of Easter? Some Christians have tried, but people love Santa and Easter egg hunts so Christians figure, if you can't beat them, join them.
2007-03-23 05:41:57 · answer #10 · answered by rollo_tomassi423 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋