ThirstyFish

The Leprechaun is now the Easter Bunny...

Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, three days after his crucifixion. Each year it is celebrated on the first Sunday after the vernal equinox. It also corresponds to the Jewish Passover feast. So what do bunnies and chocolate eggs have to do with Easter?

The vernal equinox has been celebrated by virtually all cultures as a symbol of coming of spring. For example, the Persian culture has celebrated Nowruz (Persian New Year) for over 3000 years. Since antiquity, eggs, rabbits and hares have been associated with fertility and spring. The Easter Bunny became a motif in medieval Christian Art as a symbol of chastity, representing The Virgin Mary; At the time it was believed that hares were hermaphrodite, and could reproduce without loss of virginity. In the Christian traditions, the Easter Egg can symbolize a number of things; They are painted red to symbolize the blood of Christ, emptied out to symbolize the empty tomb of Christ, and since birds hatch from eggs, they symbolize the resurrection of Christ. Additionally, just as Chametz is forbidden during Passover, eggs are commonly forbidden during Lent in many Christian traditions, and are allowed to be consumed on Easter.

Song of the Day: Spring "Allegro-Largo-Allegro" - Vivaldi (Composed 1723)