Chrisitian Symbols
The
blood of the Passover lamb caused the angel of death
to "pass over" the Israelites. John the Baptist calls
Jesus "The Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of
the world." John 1:29
The
Cross,
which is the most familiar and universal symbol of Christianity
and the Crucifixion, is particularly associated with the Easter
season. Jesus was nailed to and died on the cross on Good Friday.
Easter
Sunday
is a day for rejoicing. It was on Easter
Sunday
that the friends of Jesus learned that Jesus was alive again.
They went to the cave where Jesus had been buried. They found
that the huge rock, which blocked the entrance to the cave, had
been rolled away. The cave was empty. Jesus was alive again! He
promised new life to everyone who believed in Him.
Many Christians celebrate the promise of Jesus by going to church
on Easter Sunday. They wear their best
clothes. Churches are filled with flowers and candlelight. Bells
ring out the happiness people feel. Everyone sings joyful hymns.
Christians celebrate because Jesus has shown them God's power and
love.
The Chick is another Easter Symbol
that represents new life or rebirth. The Chick breaking out it's shell is
a symbol for Jesus' ressurrection, when the rock was moved and he
imerged from the tomb.
Non- Christian Symbols
The Easter Bunny has its origin in pre-Christian
fertility lore. The Hare and the Rabbit were the most fertile
animals known and they served as symbols of the new life during
the Spring season.
Universally a symbol of
creation, renewed life, resurrection, fertility and the Easter Egg or Hare which laid the Easter Egg and it was the emblem and
sacrificial victim animal of Eostre.
Who
is this Eostre?? Scholars
believe the name Easter is thought to come from the Scandinavian
"Ostra" and the Teutonic "Ostern " or "Eostre," both Goddesses of
mythology signifying spring and fertility whose festival was
celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox
Easter
Baskets
symbolize nests where the Easter Bunny laid it's Easter Eggs.
Today, baskets are used for the Easter Bunny hide
to colored eggs and other goodies in for children to find on
Easter!
Many
people around the world bake and eat hot cross
buns
during the Easter season. This is the only time of the year when
these special buns are made. In the old days, people ate hot cross
buns
because they believed that the buns would keep them healthy all
year.