How did Easter turn into eggs and bunnies? A historical hop through holiday traditions

For many of us, Easter is all about chocolate eggs, jelly beans and fluffy bunnies. But how exactly did Easter become so intertwined with eggs and rabbits? The story goes back thousands of years and involves the intersecting histories of pagan rituals, Christianity and modern commercialism. Let‘s hop through the fascinating backstory behind Easter‘s animal mascots.

Spring symbolism across ancient cultures

The egg has symbolized birth, renewal and springtime across cultures for millennia. Tracing back to ancient Egypt, Phoenicia, Greece, Rome, Persia and India, eggs were incorporated into rites and celebrations welcoming Spring.

According to folklore, the earth itself was hatched from a cosmic egg. Decorated ostrich eggs over 60,000 years old have been discovered in Africa. In ancient Egypt, the egg symbolized new life emerging from the primeval waters. The Babylonians dyed eggs and ate them during their spring festival.

Rabbits were also associated with fertility and new growth, due to their reputation for..err..active breeding habits. They were symbols of the goddess Eastre to Saxon cultures. The rabbits and hares that emerged with the spring were seen as masculine, while the eggs they found were feminine.

These symbols entered European culture and became absorbed into the celebrations of Easter as Christianity spread. But the roots extend deep into our shared mythological heritage long before Christianity.

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