Easter Symbols and Celebrations

The Easter Bunny
The rabbit, or hare, was a symbol of abundant new life. In ancient times, it reminded us of spring and fertility. It is associated with "Eostre" (or "Ostara"), the Anglo-Saxon Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility

German settlers in America are also said to have brought over the tradition of a bunny named "Oschter Haws" who visited houses the night before Easter and left colored eggs for the children. The Easter eggs were painted different colors to represent the colors of spring.

Easter Eggs
"Omne vivum ex ovo". Meaning "all life comes from an egg". - Latin proverb

Across the world there are myths that claim that our universe was created out of an egg. Thus, it is not unusual that in almost all ancient cultures, eggs are held as a symbol of life.

At the Passover, "Seder", a hard-boiled egg dipped in salt water, symbolizes both new life and the Passover sacrifice offered at the Temple in Jerusalem.

In Christian times, the egg was a symbol of new life, just as a chick might hatch from the egg. The Easter egg tradition may have actually celebrated the end of Lent. In Medieval Europe, eggs were forbidden during the strict Lenten fast of forty days. Therefore, it was traditional to use up all of the household's eggs before Lent began.

It was once believed that eggs laid on Good Friday, if kept for a hundred years, would have their yolks turn to diamond. If Good Friday eggs were cooked on Easter Day, they would promote the fertility of the trees and crops and protect against sudden death. And, if you would find two yolks in an Easter egg, you were going to be rich soon.

Eventually, Christians came to use eggs to symbolize the rebirth of Christ; and the rock tomb, out of which, Christ arose from the dead.