Symbols of Easter: why the bunny brought eggs to Catholics and Protestants

The word Easter comes from a pagan festival that paid tribute to the spring goddess Eostre. Early Christianity adopted the name of this holiday, which became synonymous with spring and rebirth, for its own holiday.

Since spring is also associated with the Jewish tradition of celebrating Passover and the Christian tradition of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, many Easter symbols are rooted in their histories, including Easter eggs, bunnies, and even chocolate in an Easter basket.

Easter eggs

Originally a pagan symbol of fertility and rebirth, the Christian tradition of Easter eggs came to symbolize the resurrection of Jesus on Easter. The eggshell symbolizes the tomb in which Jesus’ body was placed – the “cleansing” of the egg symbolizes his resurrection from the dead.

Additionally, early Christians who observed Lent did not eat eggs for 40 days before Easter, so eating delicious eggs on Easter morning was an especially healthy treat.

In the early Christian church, eggs were painted red to symbolize the blood of Jesus. As the tradition continued, Christians painted various scenes from the Bible on eggs, inspiring various Easter egg designs.

Another custom associated with Easter eggs was the Easter egg hunt. Christians hid colored eggs for children to find, symbolizing the search for Jesus’ body after the crucifixion. Today, children usually look for plastic eggs filled with candy rather than boiled eggs, but the source of the tradition is the same.

Easter Bunny

If eggs are an important part of Easter, why do children receive gifts from the Easter Bunny and not from the Easter Chick?

According to one theory, the origin of the Easter Bunny dates back to the pagan festival of Eostre, since the goddess was traditionally represented in the form of this animal.

In 18th-century German folklore, the hare laid eggs for children to discover on Easter morning. The tradition followed German immigrants to America, where the Easter symbol became the basis of American Easter matinees – both religious and non-religious.

Chocolate Easter candies

Easter follows the period of Lent, which prohibits chocolate and sweets.

Easter morning is a time when those observing Lent can enjoy a chocolate bunny or egg. If chocolate candies aren’t your thing, people prefer jelly beans. They symbolize the holiday with their egg-shaped shape and sweet taste. They first began to be replaced during the egg shortage during the First World War.

Easter lilies

Lilies are often the centerpiece of Easter celebrations. Legend has it that white lilies sprouted from the ground around Jesus as he spent his final hours on the cross. It is said that when his sweat fell on the ground, a lily grew in that place.

As a result, Easter lilies are a symbol of new life as well as purity. At Easter they symbolize the resurrection of Jesus and the promise of eternal life.

Chicks

Chickens are a common symbol of Easter. Because chicks are born from eggs, they symbolize new life and fertility, which are strongly associated with both Easter and the spring season in general.

Lamb (Lamb)

The lamb symbolizes Jesus himself. According to Christian tradition, Jesus was sent to Earth to provide forgiveness for the sins of all mankind. On Good Friday, the day he was crucified, he was led “like a Lamb to the slaughter.”

Additionally, like chicks and other newborn animals, the lamb symbolizes rebirth and new life in the spring.

Easter outfits and hats

New outfits for Easter symbolize rebirth. Additionally, thanks to a long-standing superstition, many people believed that wearing new clothes to church on Easter Sunday would bring good luck for the coming year.

Over time, elaborate Easter bonnets became part of the tradition. Gradually, this led to the emergence of a tradition according to which parishioners walk through the streets after the end of the service, showing off their outfits.

Palm branches

During Christian church services on Palm Sunday, the week before Easter, palm leaves are distributed to parishioners, which are used to ceremoniously reenact Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem before his crucifixion.

This represents the biblical story of how the townspeople honored Jesus as He rode into town on a donkey, scattering small branches and other objects in front of Him. Palm trees are believed to symbolize victory and peace.

Soft pretzels

Legend has it that pretzels were created by a monk in the 7th century as a food to eat during Lent. At the time, Catholics were not allowed to eat eggs, fat or milk during the 40-day fast of Lent. To make pretzels, you only need flour, salt and water.

Their shape is said to reflect the prayer posture common at the time – arms crossed in front, palms resting on shoulders. They are a traditional Lenten dish in many parts of the world, although fasting rules have now been relaxed considerably.

Dogwood trees

It is said that the wood of the dogwood tree was used to make the cross on which Jesus was crucified. Although Easter does not fall at the same time every year, these trees usually bloom on or very close to Easter.

Hot buns with filling

In many parts of the world, hot burgers are a traditional food for Good Friday, the day Jesus was nailed to the cross. This day falls on the Friday immediately preceding Easter Sunday.

Each bun has a cross on top. The spices included in the buns are said to be representative of those used to prepare Jesus’ body for burial.

Easter candle

The Easter candle is lit from a new flame during the Easter Vigil, which is held in the church on the evening before Easter Sunday. This is a beeswax candle with a year, a cross and the Greek letters Alpha and Omega on it, which symbolize the beginning and the end.

The Paschal candle is then used to light smaller candles held by the congregation to symbolize spreading the light of Jesus to those present and beyond.

Butterfly

Butterflies are symbols of the resurrection of Jesus. Just as butterflies emerge from the chrysalis in which they are hidden, Jesus emerges from the tomb three days after he was buried. They also symbolize the transformation that Christian faith can bring about by the grace of God.