Christian Meaning of Easter
The significance of Easter is Jesus Christ's triumph over death. His resurrection means the eternal life that is granted to all who believe in Him. The purpose of Easter also means the full confirmation of all that Jesus taught and preached during His three-year ministry. If He had not risen from the dead, if He had simply died and not been resurrected, He would have been thought just another teacher or prophet. However, His resurrection rebuked all that and provided final and undeniable proof that He was really the Son of God and that He had overcome death once and for all.
Easter Bunny's Connection to Christianity
The following is an excerpt from The Meaning and Origin of the Easter Bunny:
The origin of the Easter Bunny can be dated back to the 13th century in Germany. The Germanic folk, known as the Teutons, worshiped pagan gods and goddesses. One such goddess was Eostra (otherwise known as Ostara or Ēostre). She was revered as the goddess of fertility and spring. The word “Easter” finds its etymology from the goddess’s name.
Due to its prolific breeding tendencies, the rabbit became a symbol for Eostra. In AD 595, Pope Gregory sent Roman monks to convert the Anglo Saxons. The Anglo-Saxons, like German forefathers, celebrated Eostra. When converted, they accepted the celebration of Jesus Christ's resurrection at Easter while still continuing the celebration of spring renewal and the rabbit's symbolism.
The Color Purple at Easter
The following is an excerpt from Why is the Color Purple Associated With Easter?:
To understand why the color purple became the color of Lent and Easter, we must first look at the color’s significance in ancient society. In antiquity, purple dye was a prized commodity because of how difficult it was to obtain. In particular, purple dye was obtained from the harvesting of certain marine snails.
In light of how labor-intensive it was to produce purple dye, purple apparel was very expensive and often only worn by kings, other royal members, or those with high-ranking authority. As such, the color purple became known as a mark of royalty and sovereignty.
Easter Meaning Today
For Christians worldwide, the importance of Easter is praising and acknowledging Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead, and His glorious assurances of eternal life for all who believe in Him. While there are plenty of non-religious traditions such as the easter bunny, baskets of candy, and Easter egg hunts, there are also meaningful traditions for Christians today. Some include
- Sunrise services - many churches meet at a special sunrise service time to celebrate the risen savior
- Resurrection rolls - these are a cute way to teach children about the empty tomb of Jesus. Resurrection rolls are baked with a large marshmallow inside that disappears while baking, symbolizing the empty tomb of Jesus!
- Easter Lilies can be found decorating churches and homes as a reminder of the purity of Jesus' sacrifice and the new life we have through his resurrection
Extracts from Christianity.com