EASTER: The Bunny and The Egg

Ever wonder why there's an "Easter Bunny"? Everwonder why he brings eggs? And dyed ones at that!

The Rabbit and the Hare, because of their frequentmultiple births, are long time symbols of fertility.According to pre-Christian fertility lore, long before Jesus Christ was born, the Easter Bunny, akathe Easter Hare, represented the new life duringthe 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 whileGreeks placed eggs on top of graves. The Persians and the Chinese considered the egg to be a specialgift at their Spring celebrations.

As part of a gift wrapping tradition, differentcultures decorated eggs by either dying themor 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 weredyed red. It's believed that this was done to honorthe blood that Christ shed.

In England, children rolled eggs down hills on Easter mornings as a game. This signified the rollingaway of the rock from Jesus' tomb when he wasresurrected. This custom was brought to the New World by British settlers.

And now, in present times, the tradition of theEaster egg roll, or hunt, continues on city halland church lawns. In Washington, D.C., the annualEgg Roll is sponsored by the wife of the currentPresident for children at the White House.

So, as a Latin proverb goes, "All life comes froman 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 hiswife and son. He has recently released his upliftingcd, REACH HIGHER, on MRB RECORDS as a solo artist. He's also a co-publisher of the REACH HIGHER newsletter. For either, go to: http://www.reachhigher.comor contactus@reachhigher.com

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