There is a lot of Mystery around the Easter Bunny. We all
know the rabbit, its mating practices and the many offsprings. With that said
The Easter Bunny is a symbol of life with its fertility. There is a lot of medieval
folklore regarding the Easter Bunny. Over time, the Easter Bunny became a
cultural symbol of the holiday, especially for children, and the tradition of
the Easter egg hunt became a popular Easter activity However, my opinion will always
remain,
Jesus saved us and gave us new life. As the liberals and the atheists
spin it, just like the media we see today spinning. Christians are celebrating
a Pagan Holiday, however that’s far from the case. The church was a little sneaky they wanted to
celebrate the resurrection of Christ and make it known to all. The days they
chosen falls on a lot of Pagan Holidays in a attempt convert the Pagan’s Here
is what I have learned.
A little History: The early Christian associations with
fertility, new life, and spring were later woven into Christian traditions,
making the Easter Bunny a symbol of the resurrection and new life celebrated
during Easter. The tradition of the Easter Bunny hiding eggs is believed to
have been brought to America by German immigrants in the 1700s, and it has
since become a staple of Easter celebrations. The incorporation of the Easter
Bunny into Easter celebrations by the church is rooted in the early Christian
missionaries' strategy to convert pagan populations. In the 13th century, the
church found it easier to convert people by allowing them to retain some of
their pre-Christian traditions.
The Easter Bunny, originally associated with the pagan
goddess Eostre, a symbol of fertility and spring, was woven into Christian
traditions to make the teachings of Jesus Christ more amenable to converts. This
blending of traditions was particularly effective during the time when
Christianity was spreading across Europe. The missionaries encouraged the
integration of ancient celebrations with Christian festivities, especially when
both festival calendars coincided. This approach allowed for a smoother
transition for the populace, who could continue to observe their traditional
practices while gradually adopting Christian beliefs.
Here's a brief overview of the Pagan Holidays:
Neolithic and Iron Age Europe: Hares were given ritual
burials alongside humans, suggesting a religious significance associated with
rebirth.
Classical Antiquity: In Greek tradition, hares were sacred
to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, and often symbolized unquenchable desire.
Medieval Folklore: The hare was connected to Easter in
England and Germany, where traditions included Easter egg hunts and the
consumption of hare meat during Easter.
Eostre and Ostara: The Easter Bunny is linked to the goddess
Eostre, a deity of spring or renewal in Anglo-Saxon England, and Ostara in
Germany. The hare was a symbol of this goddess, who was celebrated during the
vernal equinox.
Source:
(1) The Ancient Origins of the Easter Bunny - Smithsonian
Magazine.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-ancient-origins-of-the-easter-bunny-180979915/.
(2) Origin of Easter: From pagan festivals and Christianity
to bunnies and ....
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-15/the-origins-of-easter-from-pagan-roots-to-chocolate-eggs/8440134.
(3) The pagan roots of Easter | Sky HISTORY TV Channel.
https://www.history.co.uk/articles/the-pagan-roots-of-easter.
(4) What is the Real Origin of the Easter Bunny? -
Christianity.
https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/easter-bunny-connected-to-christianity-meaning-and-origin.html.
(5) Roots of the Easter Bunny: How a mythical figure with
Pagan origins ....
http://www.milwaukeeindependent.com/syndicated/roots-easter-bunny-mythical-figure-pagan-origins-became-religious-symbol-america/.