Post by Matt Costa on Apr 17, 2006 19:49:20 GMT -5
-Easter Bunny- 
Some may say that the Easter bunny was just a product of the greeting card companies looking for an excuse to sell chocolate rabbits and marshmallow bunnies, but the Easter Bunny existed before the crucifixion of Christ. In pagan times, the Easter bunny or "Easter hare" was no ordinary animal, but a sacred companion of the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring, Eostre. The Hare and the Rabbit were the most fertile animals and they served as symbols of the new life during the Spring season. Since long before Jesus Christ was born, parents told their children that the magic hare would bring them presents at the spring festival. The presents were often painted eggs, as eggs represented the new life starting at this time of year. As the Anglo-Saxons were converted to Christianity, the Spring time celebration of new life and new beginnings attached itself as the celebration of the resurrection of Christ.
The bunny was first used as a symbol of Easter in 16th century Germany, where it was first mentioned in German writings. The first edible Easter bunnies, made primarily of pastry and sugar, were produced in Germany, during the early 1800s. The Easter bunny was introduced to American folklore by German settlers who arrived in Pennsylvania Dutch country during the 1700s. It was German tradition, that children made nests of grass and placed them in their yards. They believed the Easter Bunny would fill these baskets with brightly decorated eggs during the night. . The use of elaborate Easter baskets would come later as tradition of the Easter bunny spread through out the country and into our homes.
“And that ….is as they say…… is that"
based on info from www.twilightbridge.com and 2005 world almanac
[/font][/color][/size][/center] Some may say that the Easter bunny was just a product of the greeting card companies looking for an excuse to sell chocolate rabbits and marshmallow bunnies, but the Easter Bunny existed before the crucifixion of Christ. In pagan times, the Easter bunny or "Easter hare" was no ordinary animal, but a sacred companion of the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring, Eostre. The Hare and the Rabbit were the most fertile animals and they served as symbols of the new life during the Spring season. Since long before Jesus Christ was born, parents told their children that the magic hare would bring them presents at the spring festival. The presents were often painted eggs, as eggs represented the new life starting at this time of year. As the Anglo-Saxons were converted to Christianity, the Spring time celebration of new life and new beginnings attached itself as the celebration of the resurrection of Christ.
The bunny was first used as a symbol of Easter in 16th century Germany, where it was first mentioned in German writings. The first edible Easter bunnies, made primarily of pastry and sugar, were produced in Germany, during the early 1800s. The Easter bunny was introduced to American folklore by German settlers who arrived in Pennsylvania Dutch country during the 1700s. It was German tradition, that children made nests of grass and placed them in their yards. They believed the Easter Bunny would fill these baskets with brightly decorated eggs during the night. . The use of elaborate Easter baskets would come later as tradition of the Easter bunny spread through out the country and into our homes.
“And that ….is as they say…… is that"
based on info from www.twilightbridge.com and 2005 world almanac
