Easter, a holiday celebrated by Christians around the world, holds great significance as a time to remember the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
However, many of the customs associated with Easter aren’t actually mentioned in the Bible.
Let’s take a look at some of these traditions that have evolved over time.
1. The Name Easter
The word “Easter” appears only once in the New Testament, in a mistranslation of the Greek word “pascha,” which actually means “Passover.” Early Christians celebrated Passover and other Jewish festivals, not Easter as we know it today.
2. The Easter Bunny
One of the most famous symbols of Easter is the Easter bunny. Despite its popularity, there’s no mention of a bunny delivering eggs in the Bible.
The origins of this furry creature are a bit fuzzy, but it’s believed that rabbits, known for their ability to reproduce quickly, became a symbol of new life and fertility in ancient times.
The Easter bunny as we know it today may have arrived in America in the 1700s with German immigrants.
They brought along a tradition of an egg-laying hare called “Osterhase” or “Oschter Haws.” Children would make nests for the bunny to lay its eggs.
Over time, this tradition evolved to include chocolate and candy eggs, and decorated baskets replaced the nests. Children even started leaving out carrots for the bunny to munch on.
3. Easter Eggs
Decorating eggs for Easter is another tradition that isn’t found in the Bible. Eggs have long been associated with new life and rebirth, which fits well with the theme of Easter.
Some sources say this tradition dates back to at least the 13th century.
In Christian tradition, eggs are said to represent Jesus’ emergence from the tomb and resurrection.
Egg hunts and egg rolling are popular Easter activities, with the White House Easter Egg Roll being a famous event in the United States.
4. Easter Candy
Easter is also a time for indulging in sweet treats like chocolate eggs and jelly beans. Chocolate eggs have been enjoyed since the early 19th century, while jelly beans became associated with Easter in the 1930s.
The marshmallow Peep, a sugary confection shaped like a chick, has been a top-selling Easter candy for decades.
5. Easter Parade
In some places, Easter is celebrated with parades where people show off their fancy outfits and hats.
The tradition of the Easter parade dates back to the mid-1800s in New York City, where people would stroll along Fifth Avenue after attending church services.
Today, similar parades are held in cities across America.
6. Lamb and Easter Lilies
Lamb is a traditional Easter food, symbolizing Jesus as the “Lamb of God.” Easter lilies, with their white blossoms, represent purity and hope.
Both of these traditions have deep roots in Christian symbolism, though they aren’t specifically mentioned in the Bible.
7. Celebrating the crucifixion on “Good Friday” and the resurrection on “Easter Sunday
The Bible doesn’t say that Jesus was crucified on “Good Friday” or rose from the dead on “Easter Sunday.”
These names and the idea of celebrating on those days aren’t in the Bible. Christians started doing this later on, but it’s not a rule in the Bible.
Instead, the Bible talks about Jesus’ death and coming back to life. It doesn’t say when to remember these events or how to do it.
