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