Holiday confusion
Fleckenstein
25-12-2005, 17:16
If I recall correctly . . .
Christmas -- We celebrate the birth of Jesus with a fat man in a red suit who breaks into homes.
Easter -- We celebrate the death of Jesus with a rabbit who also breaks into homes and leaves rotting, painted eggs with candy.
Silly rabbit, Trix are for kids! Damn rabbit tryin' to steal Easter from Jesus. - Peter Griffin.
What are the details to this? I think Christmas has been explained but what about Easter? Where the hell did a rabbit come from?
(Kwanzaa-harvest in december? i think not)
Keruvalia
25-12-2005, 17:17
What are the details to this? I think Christmas has been explained but what about Easter? Where the hell did a rabbit come from?
Germanic Pagan tradition.
Eutrusca
25-12-2005, 17:21
I think Christmas has been explained but what about Easter? Where the hell did a rabbit come from?
Would you prefer an "Easter chicken?" :D
As I recall, eggs represent new life from the old Druidic celebration of Spring. Probably another example of Christianity preempting a pre-existing religious celebration.
Marrakech II
25-12-2005, 17:26
Another pagan holiday wrapped into Christian belief system. The rabbit is a sign of fertility. The eggs represent birth. After a long winter a basically spring fertility holiday was in order. So there you go. Simplified but basically that is what it is.
FairyTInkArisen
25-12-2005, 17:46
the rabbit is the symbol of the pagan goddess of new life, Eostre, whom Easter was named after
Eutrusca
25-12-2005, 17:50
the rabbit is the symbol of the pagan goddess of new life, Eostre, whom Easter was named after
Kewl! I didn't know that, Tink. See? If ya stick around long enough, you can learn lots of new things ... even at my age! :D
Merry Christmas, btw. :)
Nureonia
25-12-2005, 18:13
the rabbit is the symbol of the pagan goddess of new life, Eostre, whom Easter was named after
The things you learn! :eek:
FairyTInkArisen
25-12-2005, 18:48
Kewl! I didn't know that, Tink. See? If ya stick around long enough, you can learn lots of new things ... even at my age! :D
Merry Christmas, btw. :)
woo! merry crimbo!
Dobbsworld
25-12-2005, 19:15
Germanic Pagan tradition.
Sez who? Lotsa Pagan peoples incorporate the Rabbit, or more to the point the Hare.
If I recall correctly . . .
Christmas -- We celebrate the birth of Jesus with a fat man in a red suit who breaks into homes.
Easter -- We celebrate the death of Jesus with a rabbit who also breaks into homes and leaves rotting, painted eggs with candy.
Silly rabbit, Trix are for kids! Damn rabbit tryin' to steal Easter from Jesus. - Peter Griffin.
What are the details to this? I think Christmas has been explained but what about Easter? Where the hell did a rabbit come from?
(Kwanzaa-harvest in december? i think not)mild correction. Easter is the Celebration of the Resurrection of Christ. not his death.
and I've never heard of the Easter Bunny breaking into homes, thought he hid his eggs in the yard.... and how'd a bunny got hooked up delievering eggs I'd sure like to know.
Dobbsworld
25-12-2005, 19:30
mild correction. Easter is the Celebration of the Resurrection of Christ. not his death.
and I've never heard of the Easter Bunny breaking into homes, thought he hid his eggs in the yard.... and how'd a bunny got hooked up delievering eggs I'd sure like to know.
An animal associated with fertility as well as being a springtime food staple? Delivering symbols of fertility at a time of year traditionally given over to fertility rituals in human communities?
I know it's tough, but connect the dots. the Easter Bunny predates Easter.
An animal associated with fertility as well as being a springtime food staple? Delivering symbols of fertility at a time of year traditionally given over to fertility rituals in human communities?
I know it's tough, but connect the dots. the Easter Bunny predates Easter.
Depends on the region.
oh and I was correcting the statement about Easter celebrating the Death of Jesus.
and you sure that fertility wasn't celebrated in May? I Remember reading that the Maypole was one huge Fertility Symbol meant to insure that those who participated would have a healthy (large) family.
and you sure that fertility wasn't celebrated in May? I Remember reading that the Maypole was one huge Fertility Symbol meant to insure that those who participated would have a healthy (large) family.
Totally. It's a phallic symbol. It's a general spring thing.
980! AND WITHOUT SPAM! I'M AMAZING! :P
SEE YOU 1000! :D
Dobbsworld
25-12-2005, 19:43
Depends on the region.
oh and I was correcting the statement about Easter celebrating the Death of Jesus.
and you sure that fertility wasn't celebrated in May? I Remember reading that the Maypole was one huge Fertility Symbol meant to insure that those who participated would have a healthy (large) family.
Yeah, well I'm reasonably sure one of the reasons why Easter moves around the calendar was to help up-end the traditional May Day festivals and observances - y'know, make it harder for the locals to combine or preserve the old ways while observing the Christian stuff at the same time.
Edit: 'Cause Jesus' fanclub is made up of attention-whores, plain and simple.
Yeah, well I'm reasonably sure one of the reasons why Easter moves around the calendar was to help up-end the traditional May Day festivals and observances - y'know, make it harder for the locals to combine or preserve the old ways while observing the Christian stuff at the same time.
Edit: 'Cause Jesus' fanclub is made up of attention-whores, plain and simple.
Easter doesn't move about on the calander. It's always on the third sunday. the Date changes but it's always on the same place on the calendar.