2007-03-24 12:40:53 · 8 answers · asked by Tony D 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
The answers you have got above on the fertility Goddess are correct.. It is believed that eggs and the rabbit both symbols of fertility surrounded the the Spring Goddess Eostra..It was assimilated (stolen) by the Christians around the time of Constantine.. 4th centuryAD.. Love and Light.. )O(
2007-03-24 15:13:41 · answer #1 · answered by Bunge 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"so from old pagan practices, the bunny & eggs were incorporated into christianity."
This is only partly true.
When the early Christians were aggressively trying to convert Europe, the people refused to give up their celebrations which honored the eight points on the Wheel of the Year. At the Spring Equinox, the point in time where we have equal daylight and nighttime hours, there was the celebration of Ostara. It was a fertility festival where it was believed that the God and Goddess married and She conceived. The symbols of fertility were the egg and the rabbit, and as part of the celebration, eggs were colored and infused with the passsion of creation - which helped the people begin new creative projects like the beginning of the planting season.
The early Christians, in their attempt to convert, incorporated elements of this festival into Easter. They believed that by doing so, it would make it easier for the Pagans to accept the new religion. At the very least, they could still celebrate Spring, albeit from a very different point of view.
It didn't really work. People still celebrated and honored the old ways. When that happened, enter the Inquisition. The Christian version of Jihad. If you can't convert them, kill them.
2007-03-24 13:37:47 · answer #2 · answered by gjstoryteller 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, the Energizer Bunny is his second cousin.
Ok, for real, the Easter Bunny came about because rabbits produce so many offspring so fast, that they are a symbol of fertility. Spring is a time of new life springing forth after the "death" of winter, the ressurection of Christ is a symbol of new life after death, eggs are another fertility symbol, so from old pagan practices, the bunny & eggs were incorporated into christianity.
2007-03-24 13:17:31 · answer #3 · answered by Squirrley Temple 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The rabbit is one of several things that are related to the Germanic goddess Eostre, which is where the word "Easter" comes from. She is the goddess of spring and fertility and rabbits (actually hares), eggs, lillies, and other spring flowers are all symbols that evoke the spring and the time of growing fertility in the land.
When christianity came to the germanic lands, parts of Eostre's celebrations and symbols were 'christianized' and turned into the symbols of Jesus as the "Risen Lord", so that the peasants could continue doing what they had always done to mark the beginning of spring, and still be Christian.
2007-03-24 13:40:23 · answer #4 · answered by harpertara 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Spring and fertility among the old religionists. Otherwise, Hallmark cards and candy companies. Fun for kids, a solemn time of year for christians. Don't buy baby chicks or bunnies unless you have a farm.
2007-03-25 13:40:50 · answer #5 · answered by lpaganus 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I really have no idea where the bunny came from.
2007-03-24 13:06:38 · answer #6 · answered by ..... 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Symbol of fertility, spring, etc.
2007-03-24 16:34:07 · answer #7 · answered by Ebony Goddess 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, according to my tribute site at the link below, he's a tasty morsel for dinner. :-)
2007-03-26 21:04:36 · answer #8 · answered by Pastor Chad from JesusFreak.com 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋