Why are eggs and rabbits associated with easter?
Because the holiday we know as Easter is actually the fertility festival of Ishtar, an ancient Babylonian goddess, whose symbols are the rabbit (for its legendary fertility) and the egg…..When Christianity became the Roman state religion in the 4th century, many pagan festivals were “converted” into Christian holidays, even tho they have no basis in the Bible.
The precise origin of the custom of colouring eggs is not known, although it too is ancient; Greeks to this day typically dye their Easter eggs red, the color of blood, in recognition of the renewal of life in springtime (and, later, the blood of the sacrificed Christ). Some also use the color green, in honor of the new foliage emerging after the long “dead” time of winter. Other colors, including the pastels (possibly symbolizing the rainbow, another seasonal sign of luck and hope), seem to have come along later. The act of eating coloured eggs at the Spring Equinox can be considered a form of sympathetic magic or prayer for increased fertility, and for a bountiful harvest later in the year. German Protestants wanted to retain the Catholic custom of eating colored eggs for Easter, but did not want to introduce their children to the Catholic rite of fasting. Eggs were forbidden to Catholics during the fast of Lent, which was the reason for the abundance of eggs at Easter time. The idea
eggs and rabbits (more so baby bunnies) are associated with Easter because it is closely timed to the pagan holiday of spring equinox. The spring equinox is a celebration of life after a long dormant state (i.e. the resurection of christ as being “born” again and winter making almost everything look dead) In the spring everything “comes back to life” just as Jesus did so baby animals are a testament to that aspect. Also they are just so cute and so abundant in the spring.
First off lets get one thing clear, Easter is not nor has ever been about Christ or Christianity. The Bible never lays out a celebration for Easter. Easter is the proper pronunciation of Ishtar, a fertility goddess. This was an ancient pagan celebration in spring. I think if you consider the fertility goddess Ishtar(Easter) and the fertility rites of spring you will see where eggs and rabbits come in. The Roman church renamed this celebration to get the pagans to “convert” I wouldn’t say they converted , just kept doing the same thing but calling it something different.
