Hopping into Easter Traditions

Next Sunday morning there is a possibility that many collegiettes will find themselves surrounded by colorful eggs full of candy and stuffed bunny rabbits. Yes, Easter is approaching, but what do bushy tails and candy have to do with the Catholic tradition of Jesus rising from the dead? In case you were wondering, here is the true “tail” of how Easter as we know it came to be.

Once upon a time, there was a lovely goddess of springtime and offspring named Eastre. The early pagans held many elaborate festivals in honor of this goddess around the same time that Christians celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus. So, in an attempt to convert the pagans, the Christians decided to combine the celebrations.

Easter was officially declared to be on a Sunday in A.D. 325 by Emperor Constantine and the Council of Nicea. The Easter Rule declared that Easter shall be celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon or the vernal equinox. The ecclesiastical vernal equinox is the first day of spring, March 21, so Easter can be any Sunday between then and April 25.

All of this makes sense, but now you might be wondering where does the Easter Bunny come into play. The bunny was actually the earthly symbol of the goddess Eastre. This is because the rabbit and hare are the most fertile during spring time and could be seen as symbols of new life. It is said that the tale of the Easter Bunny originated in Germany and the good children would receive colored eggs on Easter morning because eggs were a sign of rebirth. Another reason that eggs are found on Easter Sunday morning is because in medieval Europe, they were forbidden during Lent. Thus, they were valuable on Sunday morning and many kids were rewarded with them. One reason the eggs were painted started with the Orthodox Christians who painted them red as signs of Christ’s blood. Another tradition says that eggs were used to symbolize Jesus’ resurrection from the tomb.

If you wake up on Sunday morning to find your Easter basket full of jelly beans, you won’t be the only one. More than 16 billion jelly beans are made for Easter each year.  Chocolate eggs date back to the 19th Century in Europe, while the marshmallow peeps were sold starting in the 1950s.

So as you are celebrating among family and friends this weekend, remember where these traditions came from. Maybe you have your own family traditions that you will partake in as well. Either way, Easter is a time to celebrate Christ’s resurrection and the coming of springtime everywhere!

*sources: www.factmonster.com, www.history.com, www.discovery.com,

* pictures courtesy of www.mnn.com, www.robbwolf.com