Symbols of the Season
How did Easter bunnies and colored eggs come to be associated with a major religious observance? The explanation lies in the convergence of cultures and religions over thousands of years; some of the holiest days in Judaism and Christianity begin today with Passover and Good Friday.
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The Easter Bunny
The rabbit is the symbol of the Eostre, the goddess of spring worshipped on ancient Northern Europe. The rabbit’s awesome reproductive power made it a ready symbol of fertility. In ancient European tradition, children searched for eggs--another symbol of new life--hidden around the house by the rabbit.
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Easter Eggs
The egg is a symbol of the continuation of life in many cultures. The egg shows up in harvest motifs from Asia to Europe, and ancient Egyptians, Persians, Phoenicians and Hindus believe the world itself was hatched from an enormous egg. in Jewish tradition, the egg is included in the ritual food of the Passover meal. In early Christianity, the egg became a symbol of Christ’s Resurrection, and during the Easter season churchgoers brought eggs to be blessed. The tradition of coloring eggs predates Christianity, with various colors coming to represent good luck or protection from evil. The Ukrainians are still renowned for their beautifully dyed and decorated eggs, called pysanky.
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Language of Spring
The celebration of Easter is closely tied to ancient rituals of spring. The date of Easter has its roots in ancient astrology; it is always the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring after the spring equinox (March 20).
There are varying theories on the origins of the word Easter. Some scholars say it originated with the worship of the Teutonic goddess Eostre. The Norse word for spring, symbolized by the ever-stronger sun, was variously spelled Eostur, Eastar, Ostara or Ostar. Still others believe it derives from the early German word for dawn, eostarun.
However, in many European-based languages the word for Easter is a variant on the word Pascha--for example, pascua de resurreccion in Spanish, and the adjective paschal in English. The word derives from the Hebrew word for Passover, Pesah. The Last Supper was a gathering of Jesus and his Disciples to celebrate Passover.
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Candles
Ancient spring rituals called for building bonfires at dawn to symbolize the triumph of light and life over death and darkness, also the message in the Ressurection of Christ. In many churches, the altar light is extinguished on Good Friday to commemorate Jesus’ death on the cross and relighted on Saturday night or Easter Sunday to celebrate His return from the dead.
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The Colors and Flowers
The colors of Easter ritual are the colors of springtime: white, purple, gold, green. White symbolizes purity and renewal; purple, royalty, and in Christian belief is the color of the penetential observance of Lent. Gold to the ancients represented the sun’s radiance, and green held special significance because of the seeming magic that turned plants green in the spring.
The symbolism of white flowers at Easter lily may have its origins in a Greek tale of spring, in which the goddess Persephone is kidnapped by the god of the underworld, Pluto, and held hostage for six months each year. When she returns in the spring, white narcissus flowers blossom at her feet. The Easter lily is popular with growers because of its regular blooming cycle. The most common variety migrated to Bermuda before taking root in the United States.
Sources: “The American Book of Days,” George William Douglas; World Book Encyclopedia; “Lilies, Rabbits, and Painted Eggs,” Edna Barth; Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend; Los Angeles Times.
Researched by PATRICIA MITCHELL and VICTORIA McCARGAR / Los Angeles Times