It is not Easter without the bunny
Apr 06, 2007
IN Far East Asia, a rabbit is a very special animal. The Chinese believe that if you look properly at the moon, you will see a rabbit pounding rice in a mortar.
By Simon Omoding
IN Far East Asia, a rabbit is a very special animal. The Chinese believe that if you look properly at the moon, you will see a rabbit pounding rice in a mortar.
Buddhists believe that once, when a deity visited the earth, the rabbit offered himself to the deity for food. The deities were impressed and gave rabbit a place in the moon for a reward.
In many European traditions, rabbits are a sign of fertility and new life.
The age-old Easter Bunny has been fondly present at every Easter, since time immemorial.
Dennis Bratcher of the Christian Resource Institute recently wrote: “Of all the symbols of Easter, none is more beloved than the Easter Bunny (rabbit). And of all the symbols of this season, none has a more varied, unique and universal background than the flappy-eared chocolate confection delivery man.â€
Chocolates, cakes, buns and bread are designed in the shape of a rabbit, and are given out as gifts at Easter.
The other prominent symbol is the Easter egg. From the early ages, eggs have been used in various forms among various peoples. Eggs are symbolise new life. It has also been used to symbolise fertility and renewal.
Different people paint the egg in different colours, depicting what they believe.
The Greeks paint eggs red to symbolise honour and the blood of Jesus.
Germans and Austrians prefer green for life, prosperity and hope.
In the Slovanic countries, eggs are painted gold and silver.
The Easter Basket is another tradition. It originates from the tradition of taking the Easter meal for blessing from a priest.
Families would prepare their food a day before Easter. A portion of it would be brought to church for the blessing, which would then be enjoyed after the Easter Sunday service.
The Easter Basket mirrored the bringing of the seed and seedlings for blessings in the church at the onset of every planting season, to ensure a good growing season. Today, the Easter Basket carries sweets, toys and the bunny as gifts.
Easter falls any time from March to April. In temperate regions, this is the beginning of spring, a time when life breaks out again.
Among the Jews, the Purim festival falls at this time. The central character in this festival is Esther, the heroine queen who protected her people from being annihilated.
In tropical Africa, this time of the year is the beginning of the planting season. There is often celebration and feasting. In Teso, eastern Uganda for example, there is a feast for bringing out hoes, in preparation for the new season.
Easter always falls on Sunday and even non-christian traditions take it as a special day.
Sunday is a day for revering the goddess of the sun. The sun is synonymous with the giver of life and life itself. It is from the sun that life is sustained.
IN Far East Asia, a rabbit is a very special animal. The Chinese believe that if you look properly at the moon, you will see a rabbit pounding rice in a mortar.
Buddhists believe that once, when a deity visited the earth, the rabbit offered himself to the deity for food. The deities were impressed and gave rabbit a place in the moon for a reward.
In many European traditions, rabbits are a sign of fertility and new life.
The age-old Easter Bunny has been fondly present at every Easter, since time immemorial.
Dennis Bratcher of the Christian Resource Institute recently wrote: “Of all the symbols of Easter, none is more beloved than the Easter Bunny (rabbit). And of all the symbols of this season, none has a more varied, unique and universal background than the flappy-eared chocolate confection delivery man.â€
Chocolates, cakes, buns and bread are designed in the shape of a rabbit, and are given out as gifts at Easter.
The other prominent symbol is the Easter egg. From the early ages, eggs have been used in various forms among various peoples. Eggs are symbolise new life. It has also been used to symbolise fertility and renewal.
Different people paint the egg in different colours, depicting what they believe.
The Greeks paint eggs red to symbolise honour and the blood of Jesus.
Germans and Austrians prefer green for life, prosperity and hope.
In the Slovanic countries, eggs are painted gold and silver.
The Easter Basket is another tradition. It originates from the tradition of taking the Easter meal for blessing from a priest.
Families would prepare their food a day before Easter. A portion of it would be brought to church for the blessing, which would then be enjoyed after the Easter Sunday service.
The Easter Basket mirrored the bringing of the seed and seedlings for blessings in the church at the onset of every planting season, to ensure a good growing season. Today, the Easter Basket carries sweets, toys and the bunny as gifts.
Easter falls any time from March to April. In temperate regions, this is the beginning of spring, a time when life breaks out again.
Among the Jews, the Purim festival falls at this time. The central character in this festival is Esther, the heroine queen who protected her people from being annihilated.
In tropical Africa, this time of the year is the beginning of the planting season. There is often celebration and feasting. In Teso, eastern Uganda for example, there is a feast for bringing out hoes, in preparation for the new season.
Easter always falls on Sunday and even non-christian traditions take it as a special day.
Sunday is a day for revering the goddess of the sun. The sun is synonymous with the giver of life and life itself. It is from the sun that life is sustained.