Easter Holiday
The Easter rabbit is depicted as a animal with human characteristics,eg: wearing clothes and walking upright. In Easter fables the bunny comes the night before Easter and brings Easter Baskets filled with coloured eggs which are either placed in a certain room of the home, or disguised in the garden for the children to find on Easter Day.
The Easter Bunny seems to originate in southern Germany and is mentioned as early as the 1600s. The rabbit and also the eggs are a sign of fertility as both rabbits and birds have their young in early Spring.
The origin of the coloured eggs is unknown, but many eastern Christians colour their Easter eggs red representing the blood of Christ.The eating of eggs is frowned upon by Catholics during Lent, hence the abundance of eggs at Easter time.
The Easter Bunny and the gifts in the Easter Baskets were introduced into America in 16th century a lot later than Europe.
Today Easter is commercially a huge event only surpassed by Christmas.Different countries have different rituals for celebrating Easter including Easter Bunny pageants,decorating Easter Baskets and hats.
Still the most popular tradition seems to be the Easter Egg hunt enjoyed world-wide by children and adults alike, and of course the treat at the end is the chocolate and sweets.
Sunday, 21 March 2010
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