The Rabbit and the Hare, because of their frequent multiple births, are long time symbols of fertility. According to pre-Christian fertility lore, long before Jesus Christ was born, the Easter Bunny, aka the Easter Hare, represented the new life during the Spring season.
Children of that era believed that the "Magic Hare" would bring them presents during the Spring festivals. Often, these presents were painted eggs, symbolizing a resurrection or rebirth.
In fact, the Egyptians buried eggs in tombs while Greeks placed eggs on top of graves. The Persians and the Chinese considered the egg to be a special gift at their Spring celebrations.
As part of a gift wrapping tradition, different cultures decorated eggs by either dying them or wrapping them in different types of leaves.
In 1880's Germany, Easter eggs were substituted for birth certificates. The egg, dyed a solid color, had the recipient's name and birth date etched into the shell.
Later, during the Christian period, many eggs were dyed red. It's believed that this was done to honor the blood that Christ shed.
In England, children rolled eggs down hills on Easter mornings as a game. This signified the rolling away of the rock from Jesus' tomb when he was resurrected. This custom was brought to the New World by British settlers.
And now, in present times, the tradition of the Easter egg roll, or hunt, continues on city hall and church lawns. In Washington, D.C., the annual Egg Roll is sponsored by the wife of the current President for children at the White House.
So, as a Latin proverb goes, "All life comes from an egg." And, in the words of a famous T.V. commercial: "Cluck! Cluck! Easter Bunny!"
Happy Easter!
MORE ABOUT THE EASTER BUNNY
http://www.holidays.net/easter/bunny1.htm
SEND A VIRTUAL EASTER BASKET
http://www.billybear4kids.com/post/basket/maker.htm
HOW TO DYE EASTER EGGS
http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/easter/food_color.htm
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Ronnie Kimball lives in Nashville, TN. with his wife and son. He has recently released his uplifting cd, REACH HIGHER, on MRB RECORDS as a solo artist. He's also a co-publisher of the REACH HIGHER newsletter. For either, go to: <a target="_new" href="http://www.reachhigher.com">http://www.reachhigher.com</a> or <a href="mailto:contactus@reachhigher.com">contactus@reachhigher.com</a>
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