Did you know that the Easter Bunny is probably partly a fictional figure, and that Easter eggs are an old Christian tradition?

Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who was crucified on Good Friday (the Friday before Easter). Traditionally, this is celebrated with the Easter Bunny and Easter eggs. During Lent, eggs were not eaten. Lent ended with Easter, so many eggs were consumed at Easter. The old eggs were not eaten but decorated, and this tradition has persisted. Hiding Easter eggs also dates back to ancient times and was related to the fertility symbolism of eggs. It was believed that hiding eggs in the fields would improve the fertility of the crops.

The Easter Bunny likely came later as an additional fertility symbol. The Easter Bunny is originally a German tradition, likely dating back to the 17th century. In the 19th century, the Easter Bunny was first mentioned in the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, the tradition of Easter eggs is still similar to the old Christian practice, with boiled eggs (sometimes beautifully dyed) often eaten during the many Easter brunches. The hiding of eggs is no longer done in the fields but in the garden, with regular eggs being replaced by chocolate eggs.

The Easter Bunny, as we know it today, is more associated with spring as a symbol of fertility than with the Christian faith. The Easter Bunny has evolved into a bunny with a basket of chocolate eggs on its back, which it hides in the garden. Easter is not always celebrated on the same day. Easter always falls on Sunday and Monday, which are the Sunday and Monday after the first full moon in spring. This means that the first full moon after March 21 is the reference point. In 2012, the first full moon of spring was on April 6, so Easter in 2012 was on April 8 and 9. In 2013, the first full moon of spring was on March 27, so Easter in 2013 was on March 31 and April 1.

The photo accompanying this article is from Freepik.com.