Spring is on the horizon, meaning that it’s almost acceptable for you to break out your pastel-colored clothing again. It also means that Easter (and maybe warmer weather?) is within arm’s reach — so good luck attempting to avoid the smell of hard-boiled eggs and food dyes for the next few weeks. If your family celebrates the holiday, then you know this all too well. You’ve probably also wondered at some point in your life: Why do we celebrate Easter? The truth is that there’s more to the special holiday than just decorating eggs and going on scavenger hunts.
In case you weren’t aware, Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Ever heard of Good Friday? That’s the day most Christians recognize as the day Jesus was crucified by the Romans. Jesus was sentenced to death around 30 A.D. for his missionary work and for spreading the idea that he was the son of God. After being put to death, he rose from the dead three days later, on the day that’s marked by many as Easter, or Resurrection Sunday. The holiday falls on a different day every year, typically on any Sunday between March 22nd and April 25th. This year, Christian families will celebrate the holiday on April 21st.
So what do eggs and chocolate bunnies have to do with all of this?
According to The Mirror, eggs have become associated with Easter over the years because they’re a symbol of fertility and new life. And since Easter is a holiday that kicks off spring, they’re also used to symbolize new beginnings. The exact origin of the bunny and why it’s become part of tradition isn’t really clear, though some say that you can thank the Germans for that one.
No matter how you choose to observe the holiday, we hope it turns out to be a special one.