Easter

Jesus, chocolate, and a giant bunny. What do all these things have in common? Well, these are the images that most people conjure up when they hear the word Easter. Easter is Christianity’s most important holiday and is always celebrated on the first Sunday following the full moon after the vernal equinox. This puts Easter in the time frame between March 22 and April 25. Easter is prefaced by a 40-day lent and is followed by a 50-day period that celebrates Jesus’ ascension into heaven.

It makes sense why Jesus is associated with Easter, but what does a bunny giving out chocolate have to do with it? The Easter bunny came to America with German immigrants. Originally children made nests for the rabbit in hats, bonnets, or fancy paper boxes, rather than the baskets of today. Once the children finished their nests, they put them in a secluded spot to keep them from frightening the rabbit. The rabbit is also a symbol of fertility and Easter also occurs around the time Spring arrives; the arrival of Spring means the arrival of new life and soon the rabbit and Easter came to be synonymous of each other. Eggs are viewed as symbols of life, so they too are incorporated into the celebration of Easter.

Easter is not a time of joy for only Christians, it is a time for loved ones to get together and make new memories while also celebrating the old ones.