What does this have to do with the ACTUAL easter?
2007-10-14 08:24:45 · 13 answers · asked by Nicole x 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Easter
Because EASTER is a PAGAN Holiday !
source---------http://watchtower.org
2007-10-16 01:50:09 · answer #1 · answered by . 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania brought with them the tradition of "Oshter Haws" who would visit houses on Easter Eve leaving colored eggs for children (around the 1700's). Bunny is the symbol of spring fertility of the Anglo-Saxon God Eastre (Ostara) hence the German origins.
Non-German Christians in the USA ignore the bunny until after the Civil War (1861-1865) when the Easter bunny became popular. Today it's a secular part of the Easter celebration and fun for kids the eggs that are brought are symbols of renewal and bright colors representing Spring.
Early on in America's history Easter didn't enjoy the status of a popular festival among the settlers as many of them where Puritans or members of other Protestant Churches that frowned on such celebrations.
Not untill the period of the Civil War did the message and meaning begin to be expressed as it had been in Europe. It was the initiative of the Presybeterians. The scars of death and destruction which led people back to the Easter Season. They found the story of resurrection as a great source of inspiration and renewed hope,
Since then, of course, it's a joyous customs delight children and adults alike is that really so bad?
http://www.theholidayspot.com/easter/easter_symbols.htm
2007-10-17 22:02:38 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
ACTUALLY? Everything. The time around Easter was traditionally a Pagan holiday that symbolized rebirth, renewal, and the end of winter. The most predominant symbols were eggs, obviously, and rabbits for their reproductive and fertility patterns.
When christianity began making a stronghold in new areas, they would adopt the local holidays to make it easier for people to convert to their religion.
The bunnies and eggs came before christianity was ever thought up. So, the question may be what does a cross have to do with the ACTUAL easter?
Peace,
Jenn
2007-10-14 15:33:09 · answer #3 · answered by jenn_smithson 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
*** sj pp. 19-20 Holidays and Celebrations ***
Easter: Although this holiday is supposed to commemorate Christ’s resurrection, note what secular authorities say regarding it:
“Easter. Originally the spring festival in honor of the Teutonic goddess of light and spring known in Anglo-Saxon as Eastre. As early as the 8th century the name was transferred by the Anglo-Saxons to the Christian festival designed to celebrate the resurrection of Christ.”—The Westminster Dictionary of the Bible (Philadelphia, 1944), by John D. Davis, page 145.
“Everywhere they hunt the many-colored Easter eggs, brought by the Easter rabbit. This is not mere child’s play, but the vestige of a fertility rite, the eggs and the rabbit both symbolizing fertility.”—Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore Mythology and Legend (New York, 1949), Volume 1, page 335.
2007-10-15 11:13:57 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It has nothing to do with Easter which I think should really be named after the Passover because thats when Jesus's resurrection was. The egg and the bunny thing represent worshiping the god of fertility which we know there is no such thing. It is a shame that it got mixed in with our celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
2007-10-17 15:31:21 · answer #5 · answered by victor 7707 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
from the actual Egyptian easter? nothing.
it's from European pagan traditions, celebration of spring and fertility.
Christian Easter borrows from Egyptian and Ueupoean paganism. Osiris died on a Friday and came back on a Sunday.; Egyptians painted eggs various colors, too.
2007-10-14 15:29:28 · answer #6 · answered by kent_shakespear 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Maybe becasue you see a lot of baby bunnies in the spring, they are a sign of renewal and rebirth and abundance.
2007-10-14 15:28:24 · answer #7 · answered by Daisy Indigo 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
it is celebrated for jesus. bunnies I would just have to agree with the others on this board.becaus of spring.
2007-10-14 21:21:55 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there's a fantastic episode of south park that explains that saint peter, was actually St. Peter Rabbit.
honestly, I can't come up with a better reason than that.
2007-10-14 15:28:40 · answer #9 · answered by fascist_christ 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
with rebirth.
isn't it kinda early for easter?
2007-10-15 16:27:05 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋