2007-04-06 10:50:58 · 8 answers · asked by ? 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Easter
For centuries, it has been the custom of many Christians to share dyed and painted eggs, particularly on Easter Sunday. The eggs represent new life, and Christ bursting forth from the tomb. Among Eastern Orthodox this sharing is accompanied by the proclamation "Christ is risen!", and the person being addressed would respond "Truly He is risen!".
One tradition concerning Mary Magdalene says that following the death and resurrection of Jesus, she used her position to gain an invitation to a banquet given by Emperor Tiberius Caesar. When she met him, she held a plain egg in her hand and exclaimed "Christ is risen!" Caesar laughed, and said that Christ rising from the dead was as likely as the egg in her hand turning red while she held it. Before he finished speaking, the egg in her hand turned a bright red, and she continued proclaiming the Gospel to the entire imperial house.
Another version of this story can be found in popular belief, mostly in Greece. It is believed that after the Crucifixion, Mary Magdalene and the Virgin put a basket full of eggs at the foot of the cross. There, the Eggs were painted red by the blood of the Christ. Then, Mary Magdalene brought them to Tiberius Caesar.
2007-04-06 10:57:36 · answer #1 · answered by llosier9 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Mary Magdalene is sometimes thought of as representing the Maiden goddess figure in Christian mythology.
NO you guys, if that were true than eggs would be a symbol of Christianity year round, not only when there's competition. It's a Christian contortion made up to explain why they celebrate with pagan fertility symbols.
Rabbits and eggs are both symbols of the fertility goddess Eostre/Ishtar/Ostara. 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.
2007-04-06 18:13:49 · answer #2 · answered by KC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have not heard the legend about her holding the egg, and appreciate reading that person's answer. I will look it up online. However, I wanted to respond to the person who said it was American made - nope, it comes from ancient pre-Christians spring fertility symbolism. It was just incorporated into Easter celebration as were some other fertile symbols.
2007-04-06 18:19:56 · answer #3 · answered by cheeseburger.paradise 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
didn't you watch the new South Park episode. Nothing. It was the apostle Peter. In reality he was a rabbit. Hence Peter Rabbit. However Leonardo Da Vinci was pressured by the Catholic Church to paint him as a man in the Last Supper painting. Peter's decendents are rabbits so a rabbit should be Pope. All hail Pope Snowball the First!
2007-04-06 17:57:06 · answer #4 · answered by will w 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
She was holding an egg and was arguing with an emperor that Christ did rise from the dead. The emperor said if Christ rose from the dead then the egg she was holding should turn red. And it supposedly did.
2007-04-06 17:54:00 · answer #5 · answered by Purdey EP 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Nothing. Easter eggs are American made. Not God made.
2007-04-06 17:55:04 · answer #6 · answered by Lady Mate 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Absolutely nothing.
2007-04-06 17:54:29 · answer #7 · answered by Keselyű 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
she colored the very first ones
2007-04-06 17:53:56 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋