Stores have been stocking their shelves with Easter baskets, chocolate bunnies, and plastic eggs for the past month. Tomorrow, many will head to church to celebrate the religious aspect of this holiday, and others will simply dye and hunt for eggs or even devour the goodies that piled up in their baskets. However, does anyone know how these two festivities go hand in hand for this holiday?

The name of this popular holiday is said to have originated from a goddess of the Anglo-Saxons named Eostre. Many believed that she was the goddess of dawn and was to be worshipped in the spring by the pagans in Northern Europe and the British Isles.

 Easter is celebrated by Christians in remembrance of Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead. This is the day that Jesus rose from the dead three days after his crucifixion. It is one of Christianity’s most important holiday. Being a follower of this holiday, junior Adam Wenzel said, “Easter is one of the best and most spiritual holidays I celebrate. I always enjoy the celebrations.”  

Nowadays, Christian churches in the West celebrate Easter on the first Sunday following the full moon after the Vernal Equinox on March 21. This causes the holiday to be celebrated between March 22 and April 25 every year. Easter does not fall on a set date every year hence its nickname moveable feast. Orthodox Christians use the Julian calendar to figure out when to celebrate Easter. Western churches follow the Gregorian calendar. Easter traditions have been around for centuries. However, does anyone know how the Easter bunny came about?

Although The Christian Bible does not mention anything of a cute little bunny, the start of the Easter bunny came about during 1700s. The tale of the Easter bunny was introduced by German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania. Eventually, their tradition of having an egg-laying, then titled Osterhase, spread across America. This is when the fables began. Children back then would leave carrots for the bunny and even left baskets out to receive candy and gifts. The eggs are supposed to symbolize the Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, and decorating the eggs began in the 13th century and stems from the pagan traditions and festivals.

 Today, cities across America also have their own parades. Kids across America participate in egg hunts and the decoration of them. Stores bombard customers with sales, and grocery stores are filled with colorful baskets filled with candy. Not everyone follows the same religion or the beliefs of what this holiday represents, but regardless of race, gender, or religion, everyone seems to find a way to enjoy this day.