2007-04-04 02:02:19 · 12 answers · asked by spacedmanspif 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Easter
The red eggs come from the legend which tells us that the round stones under Christ's cross got red with His blood. They are very old, maybe as old as the Christian meaning to Easter. The many-colored eggs came much later, because they look better this way, but there is still the tradition that the first egg should be coloured red.
The bunny doesn't have a symbolic meaning. It is just that parents hid the eggs for their children as a game, and when children asked where the eggs came from, parents answered taht the bunny brought them, because in spring many bunnise came out in the fields. This explanation became commonplace, just like the explanation that the stork carries babies. It is constricted to the anglo-saxon culture, nowadays it gets coverage in many parts of continental Europe as well, but traditionally, most European countries don't have a bunny in their legends.
2007-04-04 02:23:59 · answer #1 · answered by Rumtscho 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Easter is from "Ishtar" a pagan goddess of fertility. That's why Easter is celebrated with rabits and eggs - both symbols of fertility.
The word "Easter" is used once in the KJV Bible, but it's original word is the same word as Passover.
Easter wasn't celebrated by the early Christians. The Bible (Romans 6:2-6) says baptism by immersion is the remembrance of the resurrection. All other things (including Easter sunrise services, that hymn with the words "when I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun") are pagan traditions.
2007-04-04 03:54:30 · answer #2 · answered by V 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Long story, really short;
Easter was formerly celebrated as the spring solstice. It involved a lot of fertility "stuff" so the symbols of that are still with us.
About the year 400 the Roman Emperor legalized Christianity, and ordered his country to become christian. So all the holidays had to be Christianized.
So since Passover (what Jesus was celebrating) was close to spring Solstice the new state church relabeled the holiday and called it Easter.
2007-04-04 02:09:52 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
This comes from the ancient Norse tradition of honoring the goddess Oestra. She was the one responsible for bringing back the sun and thus life to the world. She was considered very powerful and very beautiful, and every one/thing wanted to gain her favor.
Eggs were symbolic for this time, as eggs (in many cultures) represent rebirth and new life.
A small rabbit wanted to give Oestra a gift for the holiday. He decided to paint some eggs and offer them to the great goddess. She was so delighted by this offering, she thanked him and made him her helper. It was his job to decorate eggs every year and leave them for the people to find, as a reminder that life will renew and continue.
This is as close as I can remember the story. If anyone finds flaws, feel free to correct them.
2007-04-04 02:57:35 · answer #4 · answered by mjkl1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Easter Bunny has nothing to do with Christianity.
2007-04-04 02:04:50 · answer #5 · answered by kja63 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Easter is all about the arrival of spring, from the celebrations of the pagans long before any Jesus was around.
2007-04-04 02:05:50 · answer #6 · answered by American Spirit 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The eggs are the pagan part of the holiday, symbolizing fertility and stuff.
2007-04-04 02:43:51 · answer #7 · answered by Stefanie B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The bunny and santa clause are both from the spirit of man and have nothing in common with the Spirit of God. If one is unable to discern this distinct difference then they are not quite there yet in their relationship with God.
2007-04-04 02:07:51 · answer #8 · answered by mariselasman 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
life begins with an egg; symbol of new life
2007-04-04 07:23:40 · answer #9 · answered by sml 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who cares? Just find the eggs, eat the candy and worship Satan.
2007-04-04 02:05:32 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋