Easter Holiday
Easter is a wonderful time of year in the Christian world to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Did you know that it isn't like most other holiday's that have a set date? The date Easter falls on is usually different every year and falls anywhere from March 22nd to April 25th. With Easter always in the springtime, it also helps us to remember the birth of new life, as flowers start to bloom and new life is springing everywhere. So, how did we get from the resurrection of Jesus Christ to Easter bunnies and baskets?
Easter Bunny
Easter bunnies, baskets and eggs are symbols of the holiday. The bunny is a symbol of fertility and new life. Some sources say the Easter bunny came to American in the early 1700's with the German immigrants. Their children would make "nests" for the bunny to lay colorful eggs. Later on the Easter basket would replace the "nests". The children were concerned that the Easter bunny would get hungry from all of the hopping, so they would prepare the night before and leave a carrot out for him.
The Egg
The egg is an ancient symbol of new life. It has been said that some Christian's view the Easter egg as a symbol of Jesus Christ's emergence from the tomb and the resurrection. It has also been said that decorating eggs for Easter has been dated back to the 13th century. Some believe that eggs were formerly a forbidden food during the Lenten season, so people would decorate and paint them to end the period of penance and fasting, then to celebrate Easter they would eat them. Easter egg hunts and rolling the Easter eggs are traditions used today. The White House always has their annual event of egg rolling each Easter season.
Easter Flower
The Easter lily is the flower of the Easter season. It symbolizes the spiritual values of Easter, purity, life and renewal. The trumpet shape of the flower symbolizes the heralding in of Jesus Christ's triumphant return to Jerusalem. Biblical scholars say that the Easter lily was found growing in the Garden of Gethsemane where Judas is said to have betrayed Jesus. It is also believed that white lilies sprung up from the ground where drops of Jesus' sweat and tears fell during the last hours. Easter lilies are native to Japan and were imported to the United States in 1941.
Because of World War II and the importing of the Easter lily bulbs, American's decided to start growing their own Easter lilies. Easter lily bulbs today are in the million's and the bulb's are started in ten farms along the California-Oregon coast. The natural bloom for the Easter lily is in the summer. But for the Easter season the bulb's are harvested in the fall and then shipped to different greenhouse location's, where they are planted in time to bloom for Easter. During Christmas time the flower's that are most popular and that sell the best, are the beautiful poinsettia, mum and azaleas'. This leaves the Easter lily to be the fourth largest selling potted plant in America.
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