Easter is considered by most believers as the most important Christian holiday. It requires faith to accept the truth of what the Bible describes. Yet Easter represents a divine supernatural event that is hard to picture in human terms. A man dies on a cross, is put into a sealed tomb, then three days later presents himself to friends.
Traditions and symbols are often used to supplement our understanding of biblical reality. The challenge, of course, is not to let these practices displace the priority of God’s word. We are about to celebrate Easter, an opportune time to examine some of its traditions.
The word “Easter” is not found in scripture. Some countries use the Jewish word for Passover to note the resurrection of the Lord (e.g., Paques in France). English-speaking countries began calling it Easter when a medieval monk, Bede, wrote that the month of April (where Easter often occurs) was called Eosturmonath, after Eostre, an Anglo-Saxon goddess of fertility.
Pagan cultures used the egg in springtime festivals as a symbol of new life. Thus, Easter eggs became a reminder for Christians of the new life through the resurrection of Jesus. In 692 AD the Council of Constantinople forbade eating eggs during the 40 days of Lent. This meant Christians could resume eating eggs Easter morning, when Lent ended, as a way to remember the resurrection.
Decorating eggs is linked to the legend of Mary Magdalene bringing a plain white egg to Emperor Tiberius Caesar as a gift. The egg miraculously turned bright red after Mary said, “Christ is risen.” The Eastern Orthodox Church adheres to this legend in a non-miraculous manner; Easter eggs are dyed bright red by boiling them with yellow onion skins.
Multi-colored Easter eggs grew in popularity. In 1290 AD King Edward I of England ordered 450 decorated Easter eggs to be given to his royal household. Louis XIV of France had a chocolate egg made in 1725 AD. Today, hollow plastic eggs are more popular with children than real eggs; the obvious reason is that they are filled with candy treats.
The Easter bunny was invented by mixing a bit of history with superstition and myth. Human graves from Neolithic and Iron Age periods sometimes contained hare bones (i.e., rabbit), implying some religious connection. Ancient religions in the Middle East ascribed love and fertility to rabbits. Titian’s painting The Madonna of the Rabbit (1530 AD) showed the Virgin Mary touching a white rabbit. German children began making nests for Easter eggs; parents said a hare would deliver the eggs Sunday morning; hence, you have an “Osterhase” (Easter bunny). Neglect the biological fact that hares are mammals and do not lay eggs.
How would you connect these Easter traditions with what the Bible has to say about the resurrection of Jesus? Today, the majority of Americans, children included, see Easter only as egg hunts and baskets. What of the true meaning of Easter? Should not our focus be more on the resurrection and less on the candy?
It is difficult to explain the new life offered through Jesus Christ (Romans 6:4) using a hard-boiled egg. The empty tomb, described in each gospel (e.g. Mark 16:4-6), is generally accepted, but hard to symbolize as a plastic egg filled with candy. Harder to explain is the resurrection (John 20:13-18) and its meaning (Mark 10:45; John 5:24); the Easter bunny doesn’t fit into these verses; though you might try to equate the bunny with a messenger like the apostle Paul.
I readily admit to biting the ears off chocolate Easter bunnies, as an annual treat for the eternal gift I received through Christ Jesus. Maybe we should label all eggs, bunnies, and baskets as special treats; and tell others why they are special.
Nomads2 