Bunnies Lay Eggs?

Another round of Easter celebrations are among us. For an agnostic like myself, the mention of Easter merely conjures up visions of a four day weekend and two consecutive four-day weeks of work (Yippee!!) And, having attended a Catholic School for 6 years of my life, Easter Thursday was also the day we all went to Mass for a feet washing event commemorating Jesus's last supper. 

Easter is in fact "a Christian festival and holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion at Calvary as described in the New Testament." (Wikipedia) But as I stared down at the easter eggs given to me during work today, I wondered where this tradition of Easter Bunnies and Easter Eggs came from? Firstly, rabbits are mammals so they don't lay eggs. Secondly, what does it all have to do with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ?

The answer is simple: Absolutely nothing.

"Bunnies, eggs, Easter gifts and fluffy, yellow chicks in gardening hats all stem from pagan roots. These tropes were incorporated into the celebration of Easter separately from the Christian tradition..." (Discovery News)

Eostre
Source: Wikipedia

The concept of an Easter Bunny originates from  "13th-century, pre-Christian Germany, when people worshiped several gods and goddesses. " (Discovery News) Their goddess of Spring and fertility, Eostre or Ostara, was symbolised by the rabbit due to its high proliferation/reproductive rate. Feasts were held in Eostre's honour at the March equinox.

Eggs have also been a long-standing symbol for fertility. Furthermore, legends stemming from the Persians, Indians and Egyptians who told of the earth being born from a cosmic egg also contributed to it becoming a symbol for birth and life, which was later incorporated into the concept of Jesus' resurrection by 15th century Roman Catholics in Germany. 

"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 Center for Children's Literature and Culture." (Discovery News)

The abundance of eggs during Easter may also be attributed to the fact that during Lent egg was not eaten by Catholics, and therefore it was made available after the fasting period.

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More fascinating to me than the history of it, is the fact that people have somehow managed to grip onto meaningless, pagan traditions that have no basis in Christianity (which is more or less a monotheistic religion) whatsoever. But nobody seems to question it, or wonder why these misplaced and incoherent symbols have been commercialised and used to such an extent by the media? It shows that once people become comfortable with a tradition it's difficult for them to discard it.

I understand that these symbols are probably harmless in the present context of the world and only serve as stories used to engage children. But I still believe it is important to know why we give importance to certain practices, and where they came from. Again, being aware and being knowledgeable will benefit us as a race in the long run!


Stay safe, Happy holidays and a Happy Easter to all of you!

Full Article: http://news.discovery.com/history/what-does-easter-bunny-come-have-to-do-easter-120406.htm