What does eggs have to do with easter

So how did the Easter bunny get its job delivering colorful Easter eggs? In Germany, rabbits have been associated with spring and fertility since the pre-Christian era. In fact, the rabbit was the symbol of Eostra—the pagan Germanic goddess of spring and fertility. Rabbits are able to breed at a young age and can produce several litters in a year. It is believed that this pagan symbol of spring and fertility most likely merged with Christian traditions in 17th century Germany.

In other words, the Christian holiday of Easter, which celebrated the resurrection of Jesus, became superimposed on pagan traditions that celebrated rebirth and fertility. So why does the Easter bunny bring eggs? Please attempt to sign up again.

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If you don't get the confirmation within 10 minutes, please check your spam folder. Hand made traditional hand painted Easter eggs Polish: Pisanki and baskets on display for sale on Krakow's Easter market. Related Stories. Some Thought It Was Fate. And what do they have to do with the resurrection of Jesus?

Well, to be frank, nothing. Bunnies, eggs, Easter gifts and fluffy, yellow chicks in gardening hats likely stem from pagan roots. These tropes were incorporated into the celebration of Easter separately from the Christian tradition of honoring the day Jesus Christ rose from the dead. According to the University of Florida's Center for Children's Literature and Culture, the origin of the celebration - and the origin of the Easter Bunny - can be traced back to 13th-century, pre-Christian Germany, when people worshiped several gods and goddesses.

The Teutonic deity Eostra was the goddess of spring and fertility, and feasts were held in her honor on the Vernal Equinox. Her symbol was the rabbit because of the animal's high reproduction rate.

Spring also symbolized new life and rebirth; eggs were an ancient symbol of fertility. According to History. The first Easter Bunny legend was documented in the s. Around , the first story about a rabbit laying eggs and hiding them in a garden was published. These legends were brought to the United States in the s, when German immigrants settled in Pennsylvania Dutch country, according to the Center for Children's Literature and Culture.