Why do we use rabbits as a symbol for Easter?
443357
There are several variations of the story of the origins of the Easter Rabbit or the Easter Bunny, or perhaps more correctly, the Easter Hare. The hare was was associated with the Pagan festival celebrating the goddess Eostre (also known as Eastre or Ostara), from which the word Easter is derived. Eostre's earthly symbol was the hare or rabbit. The hare is also symbolically associated with the moon and therefore may have indirectly become associated with Easter since the date of Easter is determined by the phases of the moon (the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring Equinox, March 21).
253879
I am not an attorney, but based upon the change from "Easter Vacation" to "Spring Break" and "Christmas Vacation" to "Winter Break" I would think it ill-advised to have much discussion about Easter in a publicly-funded school.  Because Easter is a Christian celebration of the Resurrection of Christ I don't know how that could be discussed in a school setting without offending non-Christian parents, atheists, and so on. \n\nPerhaps the Easter Bunny is a safe topic. The Easter bunny has its origin in pre-Christian fertility lore. The Hare and the Rabbit were the most fertile animals known and they served as symbols of the new life during the Spring season.\n \nThe bunny as an Easter symbol seems to have it's origins in Germany, where it was first mentioned in German writings in the 1500s. The first edible Easter bunnies were made in Germany during the early 1800s. And were made of pastry and sugar.  http://www.holidays.net/easter/bunny1.htm\n\nThe Easter Bunny is not a religious figure so I would think you could discuss him. I do not think, however, that you can discuss the Easter egg, as it seems to have ties to Christianity.\nSee http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/8149/egg.html\n\nAltough, it depends upon which website you look at regarding colored eggs.  This site says, "Egyptians and Persians used to dye eggs in spring colors and give them to friends as a symbol of renewed life long before Christ was born." http://info.detnews.com/history/story/index.cfm?id=102&category=life\n\nI think I'd play it safe and have a celebration of the return of spring.  :-)
424244
"The English and German names, "Easter" and "Ostern", ... are instead related to ancient names for the month of April, Eostremonat and Ostaramanoth respectively. According to the 8th century Christian monk and historian Bede, this month was dedicated to the pagan fertility goddess Eostre. The Easter Bunny is often identified as a remnant of this fertility festival, although there is no evidence of any link."\n\nIn other languages the name for "Easter" is derived from the hebrew "Pesach" for the Passover holiday (ex french: Pâques, spanish: Pascua).  Only in the Germanic languages is it based on the older holiday.
412388
Because there is no "True meaning".  The celebration of xmas is supposed to represent the birth of jesus, but no one knows when that actually happened (some even question the existence of the man, but that is another subject).\n\n"Easter" is actually the "goddess of fetility" and she represented "life returning" in the spring (after the cold dark winter 'death').\n\nBoth xmas and Easter started as pagan rites/rituals and traditions to celebrate "the return of the sun" after darkness of winters.  xmas was the birthday of a pagan god (I do not recall the name presently), and when the pagan leaders switched to christianity, they kept the rites and holidays, only switched the meaning to match their 'new god' (jesus).\n\nXmas was actully the "yule time" when they went out and got the largest log they could find and burned it for days to bring light back.  It was a HUGE celebration with lots of sex, drinking and partying.  In fact in early American history (when the Puritans were still in charge) xmas was BANNED - because it was such a huge drinking/sex/party.\n\nHow it is celebrated now has only been around for less than 100 years - not really much of a tradition in the sense of its "true meaning".  Its not a celebration of spring, not a celebration of light, not a big party (though there is still drinking by a few).  Easter, also is not celebrated by honoring the goddess whose name it holds, but the symbols of rabbits and eggs (symbols of fertility and new life) are still in the picture.\n\nThe problem, again, is the "real" meaning has been skewed by christians (xians) and so you don't even know that you don't know the true meaning yourself.
553525
The Easter Bunny (sometimes known controversially as the Spring Bunny in some parts of the United States) is an imaginary or mythical rabbit which leaves gifts for children at Easter (or at springtime). It originates in Western European cultures, where it is a hare rather than a rabbit.\n\nEggs, like rabbits and hares, are fertility symbols of extreme antiquity; since birds lay eggs and rabbits and hares give birth (to large litters) in the early spring, these became symbols of the rising fertility of the earth at the Vernal Equinox.\n\nThe saying "mad as a March Hare" refers to the wild caperings of hares as the males fight over the females in the early spring, then attempt to mate with them. Since the females often rebuff the males' advances before finally succumbing, the mating behavior often looks like a crazy dance; these fights led early observers to believe that the advent of spring made the hares "mad". Rabbits and hares are both lagomorphs; they are prolific breeders. The females can conceive a second litter of offspring while still pregnant with the first (the two are born separately); this phenomenon is known as superfetation. Lagomorphs mature sexually at an early age and can give birth to several litters a year (hence the saying, "to breed like bunnies"). It is therefore not surprising that rabbits and hares should become fertility symbols, or that their springtime mating antics should enter into Easter folklore; however, the notion of a rabbit that lays eggs seems to have emerged from a confusion of two formerly separate sybolisms.\n\nThe precise origin of the custom of coloring eggs is not known, although it too is ancient; Greeks to this day typically dye their Easter eggs red, the color of blood, in recognition of the renewal of life in springtime (and, later, the blood of the sacrificed Christ). Some also use the color green, in honor of the new foliage emerging after the long "dead" time of winter. Other colors, including the pastels (possibly symbolizing the rainbow, another seasonal sign of luck and hope), seem to have come along later. The act of eating colored eggs at the Spring Equinox can be considered a form of sympathetic magic or prayer for increased fertility, and for a bountiful harvest later in the year.\n\nGerman Protestants wanted to retain the Catholic custom of eating colored eggs for Easter, but did not want to introduce their children to the Catholic rite of fasting. Eggs were forbidden to Catholics during the fast of Lent, which was the reason for the abundance of eggs at Easter time.\n\nThe idea of an egg-laying rabbit came to the United States in the 18th century. German immigrants in the Pennsylvania Dutch area told their children about the "Osterhase". "Hase" means "hare", not rabbit, and in Northwest European folklore the "Easter Bunny" indeed is a hare, not a rabbit.\n\nOnly good children received gifts of colored eggs in the nests that they made in their caps and bonnets before Easter. Presumably, the "Oschter Haws" laid them when the children were not looking.\n\nA hundred years later Jakob Grimm wrote of long-standing similar myths in Germany itself. Noting many related landmarks and customs, Grimm suggested that these derived from legends of Ostara.\n\nAccording to American tradition, the Easter Bunny leaves baskets of treats (including Easter eggs and assorted chocolates and candy) on Easter morning for good children. Sometimes children leave out carrots for the Easter Bunny, which is similar to the practice of leaving milk and cookies for Santa Claus.\n\nIn the United States, revelers hide decorated hard-boiled eggs and children hunt for them. People also hide plastic eggs filled with candy or money.\n\nIn some places in the United States, some refer to the Easter Bunny as the "Spring Bunny" due to perceived religious overtones. The change has been met with significant critic
329486
:{\nIve heard that the Easter bunny is an unfortunate hold over from previous pagan religious celebrations of birth, it goes well however with the concept of Christian rebirth
348118
The Easter bunny is a symbol of fertility and rebirth, so I'm told. And a similar line of thought is also applied to the symbolism of Easter eggs. \n\nThe Easter bunny as an entity of itself does not exist, but it is a way to get kids interested in the holiday of Easter and as they get a little older (7+ or so), the real meaning of Easter can be introduced and comprehended by the child. \n\nI do have a vision of what I pictured the Easter bunny to look like when I was little, and it was something along the lines of the man in the Easter bunny costume that I saw at the mall. \n\nI have a lot of awesome Easter memories from my childhood. It did not hurt me to believe in both the Resurrection of Christ AND the Easter bunny. One I outgrew, the other is still with me. Happy Easter to you and your family!
314658
I'll tell you what i was taught\n\nan egg represents birth and is tied into jesus ressurection\n\na rabbit symbolizes fertility and thus more life\n\nnow i read that easter was actually a pagan holiday to begin with (much like christmas) and christians changed it around to be apart of the bible.\n\nso I'm sure the rabbit and the eggs may stem from that, but that's what i was taught and what i teach
775504
Because Christmas trees are of pagan origin.  They represented the tree of life to many pagan groups, which grew into a myriad of other things for other religions.  If you look into religions, you'll notice very common themes among many of them.  Christianity was one of those religions that would adopt pagan symbols and turn them into christian things in order to assimilate the people they were converting.  Easter bunny, easter eggs, christmas trees... just a few examples.\n\nThere are some religious groups that denounce halloween for the same reasoning.
350758
Yep. And Easter is a pagan celebration of spring.
438748
most kids think easter bunny when they think of easter.  It is supposed to be a day of religion but most people eat chocolate and hide eggs.
401830
Actually, the Easter Bunny has everything to do with Easter. \n\nEaster is derived from an ancient Germanic name for the month of April, Eostremonat--or rather Eostre Month, in dedication to the goddess Eostre. Eostre, or Ostara was a German goddess of fertility and her return was marked by the coming of spring and the sun. The Ost in her name refers to the East--the rising of the sun. The rebirth of the day and the rebirth of the spring were her specialties, and her celebrations occured during the vernal equinox--the first day of spring. Of course calendar dates have gotten juggled about for quite a few different reasons over time and now April is no longer where it once was on the calendar at what is now March 21st.\n\nThe rabbit was a traditional symbol of the goddess because of its great fertility, and the fact that the coming of spring marked the time when all of the little bunnies were seen starting to be born.\n\nWhen Christianity became the predominant religion it was an easy transition to introduce the rebirth of the Christ figure into the already extant birth and rebirth tradition. Old ways die hard, and the bunny stuck around. \n\nAlthough there are several explanations for the eggs the Easter bunny brings, (other than eggs are another traditional symbol of birth/rebirth) the most likely is that eggs were forbidden during the fast of lent, and were decorated and eaten in abundance to mark the end of the fast.\n\nGerman protestants although breaking with Roman Catholocism liked the egg tradition and kept it. And when German immigrants came to America, they brought with them the traditions of the Osterhase (Easter hare) and his eggs.\n\nInasmuch as Christianity has stolen the ancient goddess' name for their own holiday, it seems only fitting that its original mascot still puts in an appearance each year.
463111
It is mainly because easter ocuurs during spring. But i dont know why eggs are part of it.
136642
Not a thing. Before Christians appropriated it, Easter was a fertility festival, and it is clear how bunnies and eggs would factor into that. The paganism of the holiday never really went away, even after Christians began calling it Easter.
234560
I've know about the pagan link between the Easter Bunny and fertility and such for a while.  Here's some other websites I've found:\nhttp://www.easterbunnys.net/easterbunnyhistory.htm\nhttp://wilstar.com/holidays/easter.htm\nhttp://www.chiff.com/a/easter-bunny.htm\n\nPretty much, it seems we get the word Easter from the German holiday that used to take place at about the same time of year.  Easter falls close to Passover - the story of Jesus on the cross takes place in the new testament immediately following the last supper, which was a Passover feast.\n\nBasically, the early Christians borrowed symbols from pagan religions for all of their holidays.  Many Christmas traditions stem from these rituals as well.
435006
"Easter" is the "goddess of fetility", she represents the new life that springs up in the springtime.  Eggs and rabbits are pretty much the ultimate symbols of fertility or birth and life.  Why do we hide them? so others can find them - it's a game.   When the pagan leaders converted to christianity, they kept their old holidays and rituals and skewed them to represent their new god.  Thus, the "new time of birth" was called a "resurrection" and the "returning of the sun" (the spring equinox) became known as 'the return of the son'.  The roots are the same though - representing a rebirth in the time of spring - thus the eggs (rebirth and fertility).
337097
Because they represent (re)birth and fertility, much like the spring itself and even the Christian concept of Easter. Easter happened to coincide with a pagan festival, and many of the symbols carried over.