The Bible and the Easter Bunny

[Col Quaritch]

There's no story in the Bible about a long-eared, cotton-tailed creature known as the Easter Bunny. Neither is there a passage about young children painting eggs or hunting for baskets overflowing with scrumptious Easter goodies.

And real rabbits certainly don't lay eggs.

So why are these traditions so ingrained in Easter Sunday? And what do they have to do with the resurrection of Jesus?

Well, nothing.

Bunnies, eggs, Easter gifts and fluffy, yellow chicks in gardening hats all stem from pagan roots. They were incorporated into the celebration of Easter separately from the Christian tradition of honoring the day Jesus Christ rose from the dead.
According to University of Florida's Center for Children's Literature and Culture, the origin of the celebration — and the Easter bunny — can be traced back to 13th century, pre-Christian Germany, when people worshiped several gods and goddesses. The Teutonic deity Eostra was the goddess of spring and fertility, and feasts were held in her honor on the Vernal Equinox. Her symbol was the rabbit because of the animal's high reproduction rate.

Spring also symbolized new life and rebirth; eggs were an ancient symbol of fertility. According to History.com, Easter eggs represent Jesus' resurrection. However, this association came much later when Roman Catholicism became the dominant religion in Germany in the 15th century and merged with already ingrained pagan beliefs.

The first Easter bunny legends were documented in the 1500s. By 1680, the first story about a rabbit laying eggs and hiding them in a garden was published. These legends were brought to the United States in the 1700s when German immigrants settled in Pennsylvania Dutch country, according to the University of Florida's Center for Children.

Have a blessed Easter with your family from Mr and Mrs Quaritch

[Eyamsiyu]

"Santa Claus" is the same way.  Nothing to do with the virgin birth, but rather it was really only one thing: marketing strategy.  It was to get stuff sold.  And now we have movies based off of the supposed meaning of Christmas involving the familiar jolly elf in a red suit.

However, I'm not going to lie: Tim Allen makes a good Saint Nick. 

[Swokéyan]

Happy Easter!

Col Quaritch if you think bunnies have nothing to do with easter go watch that episode from South Park

[Nìwotxkrr Tìyawn]

^Lol, I approve of this message.

On a Santa related note, originally Santa was portrayed as being tiny, being an elf and all. He became "full size" when Coca Cola started putting him on their cans.

[Col Quaritch]

Happy Easter!

Col Quaritch if you think bunnies have nothing to do with easter go watch that episode from South Park

I avoid south park digesting show complete trash in my oppeion.

[Niwantaw]

i have to agree with the colonel there

[Tsamsiyu Atsteu]

As a Pagan I must say, at least you understand Ostara. A little.

[Coyote]

Eh, Day 7 of Passover for me. 

[Tsamsiyu Atsteu]

Hope you're having a good one

I've done a small solitary ritual for Ostara, since I'm not part of any pagan communities, but I might do something with my friend later on. If anyone wants to know more about paganism, I do advise them to seek me or another pagan member out. There is a terrible amount of vicious propaganda out there.

Ostara (circa March 21)
(Eostar, Spring Equinox, March 20-23 dependent on actual astronomical event) The Goddess blankets the Earth with fertility as the God stretches and grows to maturity. The hours of day and night are equal and the light and warmth of spring is overtaking the darkness and cold of winter. It is a time of fertility, of growing things as the freeze of winter is cast off. It is a time to rejoice at the rebirth of the world. This is a time of beginnings, action, planting spells, and of tending the gardens.This is the start in the pagan year of spring, at least among Wiccans (Like me!) and the Celtics. The first flowers are praised and the God and Goddess thanked for the true return to happier times for all. Ostara is one of the more colorful holidays, not one of the somber colors found in Yule and Candlemas. Feasting and socializing are the important factors in this holiday as well as the celebration of the return of color to the natural world.

In the Christian calendar, again to draw early worshipers, they marked this as the final days and then rebirth of Jesus. Passover also occurs in this time.

The next big pagan holiday, or sabbat, is Beltane, when the God and Goddes wed, bestowing love and fertility to the world, but I'll tell more about that when we get there

Eh, Day 7 of Passover for me.  

[Nìwotxkrr Tìyawn]

All depends on what you consider tolerance, tolerating something and liking/agreeing with it are different things.

(I can remember the South Park episode that dealt with tolerance actually, it was handled really well.)

[Tsamsiyu Atsteu]

Yeah well I doubt it's 'tolerance' when someone that doesn't even know me calls me "sick", "Evil", "wrong" and preaches at me. I take offense to that.

All depends on what you consider tolerance, tolerating something and liking/agreeing with it are different things.

(I can remember the South Park episode that dealt with tolerance actually, it was handled really well.)

[Col Quaritch]

As a Pagan I must say, at least you understand Ostara. A little.

I will admit on many other faith I'm still learning so I'm glad I didn't offend on some part of Ostara. Coyote shalom on your 7th day of passover God bless you.

As to south Park this isn't the place for it topic was to share Easter and such to my community.

[Nìwotxkrr Tìyawn]

Yeah well I doubt it's 'tolerance' when someone that doesn't even know me calls me "sick", "Evil", "wrong" and preaches at me. I take offense to that.

Of course, definitely that is not tolerance when people are telling you that directly.

[Tsamsiyu Atsteu]

Direct or indirect it's wrong. You don't have to agree with someone but to be nasty and mean and disrespectful shows a pretty bad representation of your own faith, in my opinion. I might not agree with certain religion, but I try to understand it and respect those in it. I may not agree with Mormonism, but I do have a good friend that is Mormon, and she and I sometimes discuss our faiths, asking questions when they arise.

Yeah well I doubt it's 'tolerance' when someone that doesn't even know me calls me "sick", "Evil", "wrong" and preaches at me. I take offense to that.

Of course, definitely that is not tolerance when people are telling you that directly.

[Nìwotxkrr Tìyawn]

By "directly" what I meant was them saying it out loud, if they keep it in their head there's no problem. We both agree that intolerance is bad so we should probably save this for a better suited time and place.

[Col Quaritch]

Must missed something here but this is seriously degrading from the original post could it be locked please

[Tsamsiyu Atsteu]

No offense, but I don't see why this was posted at all. *shrug*

[Col Quaritch]

Suddenly feel hurt feeling may arise it's not my intentions ever if I have I beg every ones forgiveness

[Nìwotxkrr Tìyawn]

No offense, but I don't see why this was posted at all. *shrug*

He was explaining why Easter is the way it is, I thought it was rather informative, not something I would normally look up on my own.

Suddenly feel hurt feeling may arise it's not my intentions ever if I have I beg every ones forgiveness

There's nothing to forgive, you were sharing your pools of knowledge with us, I'm grateful for it.

[Tsamsiyu Atsteu]

Oh no no no ma tsmukan, don't feel that way. I ask forgiveness as well then, from you and all involved, if I overstepped. I just do not feel this (forum/board) is an appropriate venue for religion, though I do hope you had a good Easter.

Suddenly feel hurt feeling may arise it's not my intentions ever if I have I beg every ones forgiveness