Like Christmas, Easter is a Christian holiday that has become associated with modern novelties and non-religious traditions. While Christians still celebrate the resurrection of Christ during Easter Sunday services and throughout the day, many also participate in Easter-egg hunts and share the legend of the Easter Bunny with their children.
Neil Kring, pastor at The Revolution, a campus church that is part of Great Commission Ministries, said he doesn't object to non-religious traditions but thinks they have the potential to dilute the holiday.
"A lot of people don't really think about the real meaning of Easter, but I don't know that Easter bunnies and eggs keep people from understanding it," he said.
Kring and his wife do not discourage their five children from participating in Easter-egg hunts and other non-religious traditions, he said.
The Easter egg developed from European folklore, which states that eggs represent fertility and birth, Boston College theology professor Bruce T. Morrill wrote in his essay "Easter," which was included in "The Encyclopedia of American Holidays and National Days." Because of their symbolism, eggs were associated with the spring season. Bunnies represented fertility because of their high rate of offspring, according to the essay.
Junior public relations major Whitney Collins said that while she doesn't have a problem with Easter novelties, she appreciates the holiday more for its religious aspects.
"To me, [the novelties are] for when you're a kid," Collins said. "When you get older, you realize what [Easter] is really about."
BUNNIES- The rabbit was a symbol of fertility in Anglo-Saxon mythology.- German immigrants brought the legend of a rabbit leaving eggs for children to America in the late 19th century.- About 90 million chocolate bunnies are made for Easter each year.
EGGS- Ancient Egyptians and Persians colored and ate eggs during their spring festivals.- The eggs were viewed as a symbol of fertility and new life, and early Christians adopted the symbol.
JELLY BEANS- U.S. candy companies produce more than 16 billion jelly beans for Easter every year.- Jelly beans take between six and 10 days to make.- The largest jar of jelly beans ever produced weighed 6,050 pounds.
PEEPS- First made by hand-squeezing marshmallows out of a pastry tube.- PEEPS Chicks have 32 calories and zero grams of fat.- PEEPS come in yellow, pink, lavender, blue and white.- Christmas, Halloween and Valentine's Day PEEPS are also available, but not as popular.- The most popular PEEPS is the yellow chick.
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