Answer
Because easter is a pagan celebration. Rabbits and chickens were the most fertile animals and were used as birth symbols.
This is true, but there's more to it than that. The day we know as Easter was a traditional pagan celebration of spring and new life. It falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox (first day of spring). Spring usually starts on March 20 or 21, so to figure out when Easter will fall for any given year, just get a hold of a lunar cycle calendar. Find the first full moon phase on or after March 20/21, and Easter is the Sunday following the full moon.
When the Romans were spreading across Europe, there were a lot of different religions, and assimilating people to Christianity was a challenge. Instead of simply forcing a whole new religion on people, they simply 'adopted' traditional dates and celebrated the Christian holidays on them. Christmas also falls on a pagan holiday that was celebrated during the winter solstice.
First answer by ID1483420398. Last edit by Mooshaka. Contributor trust: 5 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 34 [recommend question]
|
Also see on Answers.com Research your answer: |
Answers.com > Wiki Answers > Categories > History Politics and Society > Holidays and Traditions > Easter > How did the idea of Easter bunnies and Easter eggs come about when Easter was originally about the resurrection of Christ?
Our contributors said this page should be displayed for the questions below. (Where do these come from ) |
| If any of these are not a genuine rephrasing of the question, please help out and edit these alternates. |
