RABBIT VS RESURRECTION

What does a rabbit have to do with the resurrection? It's a good question and one, we as Christians, should be asking ourselves.

As a child, I had a vague understanding of the resurrection being associated with Easter. But what I remember most was the Easter Bunny, candy, colored eggs, and all the ritualistic fun that went with it.

I am not entirely certain if this was due to the fact that I was never really taught about Jesus' resurrection or because the greater emphasis was always placed on the Easter Bunny.

As an adult, I found myself asking, "What's a rabbit got to do with the resurrection?"

The apostle, Paul, made this statement in his second letter to the Corinthians: "--In order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes."

We shouldn't be unaware, but the truth is, sometimes we are. In the case of Easter, we definitely are.

My curiosity and my earnest desire not to be unaware of his schemes, led me to research the connection between Easter and the resurrection.

I began with my sister, Raissa. If you ever want anything researched, she is the one to go to.

I began with the word, "Easter" itself. It was not in the Bible. No surprise there. But what we started to uncover, however, did surprise me.

The word, "Easter" is derived from the name, "Ostara", the Germanic goddess of springtime. The name suggests, "East" and the various spellings are Eostra, Eostrae, Eostre, Eastre, Austra, and Ostara.

According to Jacob Grimm's, "Deutsche Mythologie" (1835), April is called "Ostara's month"

He suggests that every culture dominated by a winter climate celebrate the arrival of spring with festivals and rituals. One of the most important celebrations among pre-Christian Germanic tribes was, Ostara's (Eostra's) festival.

Ostara's festival was transferred to the celebration of Christ's resurrection when Anglo-Saxon and Germanic heathens converted to Christianity.

The incorporation of rabbits and the decoration of eggs--both obvious fertility symbols--may have come as a result of springs association with re-birth, as well as confusion with the fertility god, "Austri". The name, "Austri" like "Ostara" means, "East".

Unlike other European cultures, the English and Germanic Christians still attach the name of the heathen goddess to their most scared holiday; Easter.

The road of research that we traveled was not an easy one. It led us on a merry chase with a multitude of crossroads that ultimately led me to become aware of a scheme to bury one of God's greatest gifts; the resurrection of our Savior. It was all designed to entice us away from the truth...and the candy merely sweetened the deal.

As a parent, I was loath to deny my son all the fun the world has to offer, yet as a Christian, I knew it was my responsibility to raise my child in the way he should go. One of the ways I got around this dilemma was to allow my son all the fun and excitement of the holiday, while re-enforcing the true meaning of the day with a resurrection theme.

I admit we did eat candy, give baskets, and hunt colored eggs, but they were all decorated with symbols that directly related to Jesus' resurrection. My front door, for instance, displayed a huge cross that proudly proclaimed in rainbow-hued letters; He Is Risen!

I also delivered miniature, homemade cards to my co-workers. The cards were egg-shaped and adorned with various types and sizes of crosses. On the inside they read, Happy Resurrection Day!

I also attached little chocolate hugs to each...because, I too, know how to sweeten the deal.

And if by chance you don't happen to be creative, a local Christian book store can provide a wonderful source for small and inexpensive basket fillers and decorations.

I know that what I did, didn't change the world, but perhaps it did make someone who might not have otherwise thought about it, think about the true meaning of the holiday.

And maybe the next time someone wishes you a, "Happy Easter" you might stop and consider which God, or in this case goddess, you are actually celebrating.