where did the Easter Bunny Originate? does anyone know?
74A pagan symbol in a Christian setting
The Easter Bunny is a symbol of fertility dating back to ancient times which has survived theChristianisation of the Western World.
The period around the spring equinox is a time when the earth awakens from her winter slumbers and new growth is seen on trees, lambing and the arrival of the March Hare who's mating season reaches its height around this time of year.Hence the mad March Hare in Alice in Wonderland.
The Rabbit is well known for its prolific mating habits and was seen as a symbol of fertility for ancient people. Often he became confused with the hare and the two became intermingled in folklore. Other symbols include the Maypole, traditionally danced around by young girls to ensure their fertility and ensure the continuation of their community, Easter eggs also symbolise the same, the painting of eggs with faces was to ward off evil spirits that may blight the village and make women barren.
How Easter came about
The Jewish Passover was traditionally celebrated on the first full moon after the equinox but at the Council of Nicea in 326 AD it was decided to seperate Jesus from his tradiotional Jewishnes and change the feast of Easter to the first full moon after the Equinox so that the two could never coincide. The Council also decided that the Christian Sabbath should be on Sunday instead of Saturday as the Jews celebrated it. Hence we celebrate Easter Sunday, on the Jewish sabbath, Jesus was supposedly rescuing the souls of the damned from Hell.
Emporer Constantine designed it so that no Biblical books that showed the Romans in a bad light should be included. Constantine himself, besides being Emporer was a Sun Worshipper, worshipping the god Helios and so the festival kept the traditional name of the festival of Estore after the pagan goddess of fertilty.
Christianity knew that it could not defeat the powers of the pagans and as was customary absorbed elements of other religions into its tenets and teaching. There are strong elements of Greek, Roman and Egyptan worship in the Christian religion. Jesus being a Saviour God as was Osiris of Egypt and Mithra of the Persians, other religions that the Romans absorbed.
So there you have it. A pagan symbol of fertility put into a Judeo Christian setting. The Bunny has a long and illustrious history.
Long may he continue.
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Comments
Way to go crimewriterjohn. Good job and welcome to the HubPages.
Oh my, and here I was thinking it was some great marketing ploy like the American version of Santa. This business I'm in has made me waaaaayyyy to cynical! Great post.
Well, I never knew that. It's surprising when you look at the origins of the things that we take for granted. Hreat Hub.
It is amazing how Christianity managed to absorb and take over Pagan traditions!
I think the Pagan explanation to festivities and its traditions are much more nicer, respectful towards nature and mankind and make more sense than the Christian ones.
Nice hub!
As for Christianity absorbing and taking over the Pagan traditional symbols, the flow was hardly all in one direction. As Catholicism was spreading its franchises, McDonald's-like, all across Medieval Ireland, they forced conversions and forced Irishmen who had been Pagans and farmers all their lives to build their new Catholic churches. These Irish stoneworkers engraved the images of what were supposedly Catholic Saints into the new edifices - but any Pagan would immediately recognize them as heros of Pagan folklore, merely garbed in Saints' robes.
absolutely true satori. It shows that you can never hide symbolism. Even the Celtic catholic Church was absorbed by the Church of rome and it's teaching absorbed into a more orthodox religion but the pagan elements still survived.
G-Ma Johnson says:
2 years ago
Wow ! ! Thank You ever so much...very informative and interesting. So glad you responded so quickly also. You are a dear G-Ma :o) hugs and HAPPY EASTER