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Show A BASKET FULL OF EGGS-WHAT DOES IT MEAN? Jordan Freytag / HEX Writer Isn't it strange that we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus by telling children that a bunny carrying a basket full of colored eggs sneaks into their house at night leaving them treats and sometimes toys? When I was a kid, I never really understood Easter. I only knew that it had to do with Jesus and Him rising from the dead, but as far as the Easter Bunny and his multi-colored eggs, I had no idea why they were a part of the holiday, and didn't care either—for the bunny brought gifts. The bunny and Jesus seem to have nothing to do with each other, and through some research I found that they are only related loosely by commonalities in their symbolism, the main commonality being life (spring) rising out of death (winter). Easter is really just a celebration of life's continuum, a combination of rituals from different religious cultures. Most of the symbolism regarding the egg and the bunny (more specifically the hare) originates from Pagan theology. They both represent fertility, the eggs being the cradle from which life stems. An interesting and significant fact about hares: they can conceive a second liter while pregnant with the first. This is where the term, "breeding like rabbits" comes from. The hare's ability to reproduce at such a fast rate symbolizes the burst of spring, and its ability to produce life so quickly and efficiently. These symbols were adapted by the Catholic Church in order to convert more members of Pagan and other similar religious cultures. I like the symbolic ideas of Easter, and celebrating it for those things it symbolizes. Without religious ties it becomes clearer what exactly is being celebrated. But a connection can be made between the story of Jesus' resurrection and the symbols of fertility: Jesus rising (spring) from the dead (winter). I think that the varied symbolism can feel inconsistent, in turn confusing people about the true meaning of Easter. But then again, people will say that, "the true meaning of Easter" is a relative statement. HEX / VI + |