Easter

Easter is the celebration in the Christian faith of the day that Jesus was resurrected from the dead. It follows Good Friday and marks the end of Lent. It is celebrated by Christians and non-christians alike by hunting for eggs, having the easter bunny come to give you candy in a basket, and sporting pastel colors. The real question is, where did the bunny come into play and why did the Christians adopt this pagan celebration?

It's simple enough. "Eostre", (which is obviously where we got the term "Easter"), is from the ancient times in which the rabbit was a symbol of fertility (The phrase "Breeds like rabbits" comes into play here), equated with springtime and renewal of life. The hare was also associated with the moon, whose cycles determine the precise date of Easter each year. The documented resurrection of Christ and this pagan celebration happened to fall upon the same season of the year, and Voila! Easter.

The coloring of eggs came in later, and I'm proud to say that my ancestry had something to do with it. In Germany in the 1500's the coloring of eggs by children were in preparation for the coming "Oschter Haws". The bunny who would come, scattering eggs and candy in it's path. It was brought to America's later on in the 1700's.

Now that we are all a little more educated on this holiday, I would like to take a moment and explain why I love this holiday. It falls in springtime, firstly. I love springtime, mostly because most of my style is derived from pastels, flowers, and overall happy things. This is, in fact, my favorite holiday. Most people love Christmas, but buying presents is too stressful. That holiday hustle and bustle is full of angry people waiting in line for that useless piece of plastic. Church at Christmas time isn't the same either. It's all about baby Jesus. Don't get me wrong, that's an integral part in the Christian faith; however, it's always so darkly remembered, with dim rooms lit by candlelight. The overall ambiance of it is a little dreary. But with Easter, it's different. All the girls with their lace socks and patent leather shoes, combined with grinning parents parting the little boys hair off to the side while they squirm in discomfort. The bright flowers, the cardigans draped over sun dresses, and the overall happy composure of everyone around them. Most people would like to wake up to presents, but I would rather wake up to a chocolate bunny surrounded pastel M&M's and fake grass. It's a holiday of grins, candy, and flower dresses. Who wouldn't want to celebrate?