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Easter is upon us once again and while children must wait a bit longer for the Easter Bunny to surprise them with gifts and colored eggs, the bunny has long appeared as a chocolate figure on the shelves of Germany’s grocery stores.
A few days prior to the Easter feast, our friend “Bunny” can be seen everywhere − the bunny appears on greeting cards people send to friends and relatives, in shop windows, at spring markets and on advertisements.
***image2***People also decorate their homes and yards for Easter with Easter Bunnies and Easter trees, which are trees adorned with hollowed-out eggs and ornaments.
Who is this popular Easter Bunny everyone loves so much?
No one seems to know, exactly. What people do know is the custom of the Easter Bunny (known for hiding Easter eggs) can be traced back to 1682. During this time, rabbits were mentioned in connection with Easter customs for the first time, perhaps because they appear more in people’s gardens during springtime to nibble on the fresh greens.
It wasn’t until the 19th century that the rabbit started bringing Easter gifts. Along with traditional Easter walks and Easter outings, presenting Easter gifts and colored eggs is also quite common.
Parents give their children colored Easter eggs, chocolate eggs and chocolate rabbits. They arrange small Easter gifts and eggs in baskets that are hidden in the backyard or in secret corners of the house. On Easter morning, children search for the baskets that are said to have come from the Easter Bunny.
Children throughout the country also participate in egg-rolling contests, when colored eggs are rolled down grassy slopes.
For Christians throughout the world, the Easter holiday is the most important holiday of the year. Easter is the oldest Christian feast, dating back all the way to the early 2nd century.
There has been much speculation about the origin of the word
Easter, which is “Ostern” in German, and its connection to the ancient Anglo-Saxon spring goddess named “Eostra.” But a connection is unproven.
The Saturday before Easter marks the end of Lent. After 40 days of fasting, people are once again permitted to eat what they wish.
Good Friday is the day when Christians remember Christ’s death on the cross. Services of devotion at the Stations of the Cross are held.
The tradition of the Easter bonfire is widespread. Fire is the symbol of re-awakened nature and, according to ancient belief, fire is supposed to protect men from all kinds of adversity.
For Christians, the Easter bonfire symbolizes the victory of Christ over death and darkness. The Easter fire is used to light the Easter candle in the Catholic Church for the remainder of the year.
