Good Day Brave Hearts
Happy Easter to all.
The Easter Bunny is hop, hop, hopping into our world again, to help us celebrate the Easter story, with a twist. An animal twist that supports the rabbit as a part of the celebration of life. The resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday and the traditional Easter Egg hunt.
Regardless of your faith, Easter is celebrated by most of us, in a manner of religion, or fun. The furry animal, with eggs and candies kind of fun. A bunny, or a rabbit, maybe a hare, of noteworthy cuteness, bringing Easter eggs in many colours and many candy forms. Chocolate, for the chocoholics, who cherish the world of chocolate treats. Chocolate bunnies and eggs, hollow or filled, jelly beans and cream centred eggs, a dietary delight of candy. Lovely candy, full of richness and sugar, the confectioners delight. Easter is a booming business in the candy trade.
Of course, there’s also flowers, with the traditional flower of Easter being the Calla Lily, which blooms at Easter time and gives us a festive tradition to participate in, whether you believe in the Christian story of resurrection or not.
Spring is here, the wild crocuses are in bloom and the Easter bunny is hopping along, spreading Easter eggs in hiding places for us to find. It’s a fun story, which capitalizes on an ancient story of death and resurrection. The rise of Jesus of Nazareth from the tomb, which coincides with the passing of winter into spring. A symbolic passing from the dead of winter to the new life of spring, immortalized by the death of the Savior on the cross, to the revelation of a vacant tomb and new life. The new life of rebirth, of being reborn, of the passing of death to life. It’s a symbolic time, a holy time, a time to cherish the Lord and the representation that all life will live.
Easter Symbols and Traditions – Easter Bunny, Eggs & Lilies | HISTORY
Julius Caesar noticed that in old England, no one would eat hares. Hares had been connected to the Virgin Mary, Jesus and the Holy family. The prolific rabbit, sends a message of fertility to us, with large families. So does the egg. Painting eggs is part of the Easter past time and egg painting is a celebrated art in some countries. The tradition of painting eggs in bright colours, so that we can find them under pillows, in the yard, hiding in trees and in plants, is a joyous part of Easter celebrations, but it also sends a message. Eggs are fertility It’s spring and rebirth is all around us.
The fabulous Savior, who survives death and is resurrected into this world, only to ascend to Heaven, is a story of awesome wonder at the miraculous life of Jesus. The miracle of death and resurrection, life and death, rebirth. It is also a time of family holiday and a celebration of the impossible. Rising from the dead, speaking to people, walking streets. It’s a mystery still unsolved. It’s a mystery of faith.
The easy way to resolve Easter, is to paint Easter eggs and adore the bunny, who comes hop, hop, hopping along.
Written by Dr. Louise Hayes
March 30, 2024