Why do you celebrate Easter? Is it because of your religious affiliation? Celebrating Jesus’ resurrection? Or do you celebrate it because that is simply what you know? Is your Easter Sunday full of sunrise service, Easter dresses, and a feast with your family? Or do you spend it completing egg hunts, filling baskets, and decorating eggs? Quite frankly, both practices are common, and even practiced simultaneously. Unfortunately enough, Easter has become quite the commercialized holiday without people even understanding the meaning behind common traditions. The contents within decorative baskets are quickly transforming from a nice spring outfit and some favorite candy to expensive toys and sugar overloads. These traditions are becoming a standard of this holy holiday. I am curious...do you know the history behind the traditions? Or are they practiced because that is what society has allowed us to grow accustomed to? Here is a break down on common traditions. Believe it or not, they are all religious affiliated. Whether you knew it or not, you are still celebrating the true meaning of Easter while coloring eggs and filling baskets with chocolate.
Why call it Easter, anyway?
The original origin is unknown to this day. There are multiple sources that claim different originations. The most popular explanation is that “Easter” was derived from Eostre. She was Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility, also celebrated around the spring equinox.
Decorating Eggs
Decorating eggs has been a tradition for quite some time. For thousands of years, eggs have been a mythological symbol of birth. The yolk inside the shell represents Christ’s resurrection from the tomb. Although in the 21st century eggs are painted and dyed all colors of the rainbow, they were originally painted red, symbolizing the blood of Christ that was shed on the cross.
Easter Bunny
In the 16 century, the rabbit was a symbol of new life. Children were told that if they behaved, the Easter bunny would come and lay colorful eggs on their lawn. Does this sound familiar to another important holiday? Children would create welcoming, vibrant nests in their homes, in hopes that they would wake up on Easter Sunday to a rainbow lawn.
Egg Hunts
Because children anticipated a visit from the Easter bunny, they would wake on Easter morning and would run outside “hunting” for the eggs that they were left. Although the tradition began with the idea that the Easter bunny was hiding the eggs the night before Easter morning, it is not uncommon today for children to complete multiple egg hunts over the course of the entire Easter weekend.
Chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate
Knowing the history behind why eggs are so popular during Easter, triggered a life changing idea. During the 19 century, chocolatiers began making egg shaped chocolates as their way of celebrating Easter. Egg shaped chocolates of all kinds were decorated just as Easter eggs were painted. It was not long until this sweet tradition had spread throughout the world.
The new life of Spring
Families get together on Easter Sunday to celebrate a number of things. Although the main focus is the resurrection of Jesus, Easter is also a celebration of the change of seasons. Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday following the full moon after the vernal equinox on March 21. Just as Christmas was to align with the pagan celebration of winter, it is likely that Easter was moved to replace the pagan celebration of spring.
