The Easter Hare
"The Easter Rabbit lays the eggs, for which reason they are hidden in a nest or in the garden. The rabbit is a pagan symbol and has always been an emblem of fertility."
- The Catholic Encyclopedia
An egg-laying rabbit. Do we really need to say anymore? The obvious mythical nature of that statement should be enough of a red flag for us to throw it out the window and not have any doings with celebrating the resurrection of our Messiah! Yet, we still need more information, don't we?
Since antiquity, the hare has been a symbol of fertility, rebirth, and femininity, associated with the lunar cycle. (1)
These cute little creatures have, like the egg, been adopted as objects of worship by many cultures throughout the history of the world. And like the egg they are widely thought of in the realm of fertility. We all know that rabbits are very fertile and will often have large litters when giving birth. This fact led to the belief that they were worthy of adoration and could grant some of those powers of fertility to those in need. Does a "rabbit's foot for good luck" come to mind?
Like birds, bunnies will birth their litter during the early spring so it is no wonder that they have come to enter the mythology of Easter. The false goddess and it's festival, held during the early spring and celebrating fertility and renewal of life, is a perfect medium of all things related in worship of sexual fertility rites and rituals.
- The Catholic Encyclopedia
An egg-laying rabbit. Do we really need to say anymore? The obvious mythical nature of that statement should be enough of a red flag for us to throw it out the window and not have any doings with celebrating the resurrection of our Messiah! Yet, we still need more information, don't we?
Since antiquity, the hare has been a symbol of fertility, rebirth, and femininity, associated with the lunar cycle. (1)
These cute little creatures have, like the egg, been adopted as objects of worship by many cultures throughout the history of the world. And like the egg they are widely thought of in the realm of fertility. We all know that rabbits are very fertile and will often have large litters when giving birth. This fact led to the belief that they were worthy of adoration and could grant some of those powers of fertility to those in need. Does a "rabbit's foot for good luck" come to mind?
Like birds, bunnies will birth their litter during the early spring so it is no wonder that they have come to enter the mythology of Easter. The false goddess and it's festival, held during the early spring and celebrating fertility and renewal of life, is a perfect medium of all things related in worship of sexual fertility rites and rituals.
A Diabolical Union
Medieval roof boss, South Tawton, Devon
During Medieval times it was believed that hares were hermaphrodites and could thus give birth while remaining a virgin. This is not true, of course, but it led many in the Catholic church to associate the bunny with the virgin Mary and the concept of the Trinity. (2)
Often times hares would be inserted into paintings of the virgin Mary and the Christ-child because of this belief. As you see the photo to the left (courtesy of Chris Chapman of the Three Hares Project), you can see the interlocked ears of the three hares as found in a church in Devon, England. (3)
During this time many in the church were continuing the obscene practice of enveloping pagan cultures with christianity by allowing the pagans to keep many of their traditions while converting to Catholicism. (4)
Hence, this led to many idolatrous symbols being incorporated into the "church" which Yahweh specifically tells His people not to do (Deuteronomy 12:4; Ephesians 5:11).
The advent of the "Easter Bunny" is fairly new in terms of the association with the fertility festival of Easter, but compared to the use of the egg.
"Among the theories of the origin of the Easter rabbit belief, the most plausible (although still not without difficulties) is that it
may be connected in some way with the so-called March Hare of folktale. The Easter rabbit was believed to actually lay the
eggs; hence, children went to elaborate lengths to build attractive "nests" for the elusive egg layer, who was summoned by
whistling or by saying a charm." - Encyclopedia.com
However, we must keep in mind that these symbols have been used for thousands of years in fertility festivals so it seems only logical that the hare would have been a natural integrated part of Eostre's feasts.
Hiding the eggs in a basket for the "Easter Bunny" to find on that early morning has been a tradition passed down for generations now, and so remains ingrained in our thinking. So many parents (myself included at one time) have gleefully hidden eggs or gifts in baskets in anticipation of their sweet little son or daughter finding the secret treasure. Often times, if we are professing believers in Messiah, we will try and tie the symbolism of hiding the basket and gifts into His death and resurrection. I'm sure most children are considering the gifts more than anything at that point, however. These types of things need to be examined and held up to the light of Scripture to see if they are pleasing and acceptable to our heavenly Father, if we claim to follow Him.
Are we not teaching our children to do the same thing that Yahweh abhors? By trying to show them the truth of Messiah's sacrifice and resurrection and then placing that side by side with traditions and customs that are virtually the same rites and rituals of the fertility festival of Eostre we are teaching them to walk contrary to the Word of Yahweh. We are taking His name in vain.
In reality, anything that opposes the truth of Yahweh's Scriptures is a teaching of demons as Paul described to
Timothy (1 Timothy 4:1).
Resources:
(1) http://homepages.uwp.edu/martinm0/Spring2007/167/symbolism_of_rabbits_and_har.htm
(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Bunny
(3) http://www.chrischapmanphotography.co.uk/hares/index.html
(4) Pope Gregory 1 to Mellitus found in Venerable Bede's Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bede
Often times hares would be inserted into paintings of the virgin Mary and the Christ-child because of this belief. As you see the photo to the left (courtesy of Chris Chapman of the Three Hares Project), you can see the interlocked ears of the three hares as found in a church in Devon, England. (3)
During this time many in the church were continuing the obscene practice of enveloping pagan cultures with christianity by allowing the pagans to keep many of their traditions while converting to Catholicism. (4)
Hence, this led to many idolatrous symbols being incorporated into the "church" which Yahweh specifically tells His people not to do (Deuteronomy 12:4; Ephesians 5:11).
The advent of the "Easter Bunny" is fairly new in terms of the association with the fertility festival of Easter, but compared to the use of the egg.
"Among the theories of the origin of the Easter rabbit belief, the most plausible (although still not without difficulties) is that it
may be connected in some way with the so-called March Hare of folktale. The Easter rabbit was believed to actually lay the
eggs; hence, children went to elaborate lengths to build attractive "nests" for the elusive egg layer, who was summoned by
whistling or by saying a charm." - Encyclopedia.com
However, we must keep in mind that these symbols have been used for thousands of years in fertility festivals so it seems only logical that the hare would have been a natural integrated part of Eostre's feasts.
Hiding the eggs in a basket for the "Easter Bunny" to find on that early morning has been a tradition passed down for generations now, and so remains ingrained in our thinking. So many parents (myself included at one time) have gleefully hidden eggs or gifts in baskets in anticipation of their sweet little son or daughter finding the secret treasure. Often times, if we are professing believers in Messiah, we will try and tie the symbolism of hiding the basket and gifts into His death and resurrection. I'm sure most children are considering the gifts more than anything at that point, however. These types of things need to be examined and held up to the light of Scripture to see if they are pleasing and acceptable to our heavenly Father, if we claim to follow Him.
Are we not teaching our children to do the same thing that Yahweh abhors? By trying to show them the truth of Messiah's sacrifice and resurrection and then placing that side by side with traditions and customs that are virtually the same rites and rituals of the fertility festival of Eostre we are teaching them to walk contrary to the Word of Yahweh. We are taking His name in vain.
In reality, anything that opposes the truth of Yahweh's Scriptures is a teaching of demons as Paul described to
Timothy (1 Timothy 4:1).
Resources:
(1) http://homepages.uwp.edu/martinm0/Spring2007/167/symbolism_of_rabbits_and_har.htm
(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Bunny
(3) http://www.chrischapmanphotography.co.uk/hares/index.html
(4) Pope Gregory 1 to Mellitus found in Venerable Bede's Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bede