does anyone no why a BUNNY?
2007-04-07 23:48:25 · 12 answers · asked by araleryani 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Easter
Rabbits are age-old fertility symbols.
2007-04-08 04:09:08 · answer #1 · answered by Terri 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The origin of the Easter Bunny probably goes back to the festival's connection with the pagan goddess Eostre. Eostre (sometimes spelt Oestre) was a fertility goddess from whom we derive the word "oestrogen" and she is closely associated with fertility symbols such as eggs. The rabbit is known as a highly fertile creature and hence an obvious choice for Easter symbolism.
In fact the use of a rabbit is probably a mistake - the Easter "bunny" is more likely to be a hare, since it is the hare that is usually considered the sacred creature of Eostre. Hares have been considered sacred by many cultures inclusing the ancient Egyptians who believed them to watch the moon during the night. Although hares and rabbits are related they are most definitely different creatures, as a certain Bugs keeps reminding us!
2007-04-07 23:51:13 · answer #2 · answered by J 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Really they have nothing to do with the true meaning of Easter, in the same way Santa and Snowmen have nothing to do with the real meaning of xmas.
The bunny has been linked with this time of year as they are spring like animals and often seen for the first time in the year at this time.
The easter bunny is a mythical thing (much like santa) that brings eggs.
A bit lame really.
2007-04-07 23:52:56 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Easter gets its name from Eoster, an Anglo-Saxon goddess of the dawn. Her name comes from an Indo-European root "aus-," meaning "to shine," from which also come Eos and Aurora, the Greek and Roman names of the dawn goddess; also in Greek, Aurios was Aurora as the Goddess of the Morrow (Her name may derive from an earlier "Ausrion," meaning morning). Her holiday is celebrated near the Spring Equinox (Gk. he Ismemeria Earine), as Easter is celebrated on the Sunday following the full moon that follows or falls on the Spring Equinox; naturally She is especially honored by Dawn Rites (as is still part of the Easter tradition). The same root "aus-" gives us "East," the direction of the dawn, and on the Spring Equinox the Sun rises due East. (See De Aurora Liber for more on Eos.)
Since the Spring (Gk. Ear) is the dawn of the new vegetation year (and was often the start of the calendar year in ancient times), Eoster is also a goddess of spring. She is essentially identical to Freya, for She is the goddess of the fertile spring, the resurrection of life after winter. Friday, of course, is named for Freya and sacred to Her; so it is especially appropriate to honor Her on "Good Freya's Day."
2007-04-07 23:52:39 · answer #4 · answered by pastorharry 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Easter was originally a festival of renewal and fertility. What's more fertile than a rabbit!
2007-04-07 23:59:20 · answer #5 · answered by shauna m 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A rabbit is known for its reproductiveness and an egg also has to do with birth. See the theme, birth, rebirth. Beginning again? Christ died and came back, rebirth?
2007-04-07 23:51:24 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
easter symbolizes new life right? so all those animals that breed at that type of year... (little chickens too). and other symbols like eggs and flowers etc. (and to be fair, the rebirth of christ)
2007-04-07 23:53:36 · answer #7 · answered by ...hello? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A devious, shameless ploy to get kids that were not brought up in a religious background interested in church. Horrible for me to say that.. but oh well.. makes sense to me.
2007-04-07 23:52:14 · answer #8 · answered by lost_but_not_hopeless 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no idea--eggs and bunnys just don't seem to fit together!
2007-04-07 23:51:26 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://www.holidays.net/easter/bunny1.htm
check this link out
2007-04-07 23:53:12 · answer #10 · answered by JustMe 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋