| Easter is celebrated this year on March 23rd. The | | | | leaves eggs and assorted candy on Easter morning |
| Easter Bunny is a rabbit character who brings gifts | | | | for good children as well as hiding decorated |
| and candy to children on the Easter holiday. Did you | | | | hard-boiled or plastic eggs filled with candy or money |
| know that eggs, like rabbits are fertility symbols of | | | | for children to hunt for them. |
| ancient history? This is because birds lay eggs and | | | | As Christian people, this day is why we celebrate our |
| rabbits give birth in the early spring. In english, the | | | | Christianity. It's the great day that Jesus Christ died |
| word "Easter" comes from an ancient pagan goddess | | | | and arose from the dead to forgive us of our sins. |
| of the spring named Eostre, related to German | | | | As parents, when my son was very young and didn't |
| Ostara. Eostre was once believed to save a bird | | | | truly understand Christ's death and resurrection, my |
| whose wings had frozen during the winter by turning | | | | husband and I participated in Easter egg hunts and |
| it into a rabbit. And because the rabbit had once | | | | chocolate bunnies, because that's how we grew up. |
| been a bird, it could still lay eggs. And that idea of an | | | | We followed the tradition. But we also taught our |
| egg-laying rabbit became the modern Easter Bunny in | | | | son who Christ was and why we truly celebrate |
| the United States in the 18th century. The custom of | | | | Easter. He may not have fully understood, but at |
| coloring eggs is not known. But Greeks typically dye | | | | least we introduced Christ to him. And I believe that's |
| their Easter eggs red, the color of blood, to | | | | all we truly need to do in order for God to do the |
| recognize the renewal of life in springtime and later, | | | | rest. I don't believe that the Easter Bunny is a bad |
| the blood of Christ. According to the legend, only | | | | symbol for our children, but it's not the true symbol. |
| good children received gifts of colored eggs in the | | | | And as Christian parents we should be sure to include |
| nests that they made before Easter. And according | | | | Christ in Easter and not the Easter Bunny alone... |
| to the United States tradition, the Easter Bunny | | | | |