by Brenda Nelson

Created on: April 01, 2009   Last Updated: April 11, 2011

Did you know that Easter eggs have nothing to do with the resurrection of Jesus? Due to its association with eggs, chicks, and bunnies, it truly should not come as a surprise to anyone to learn that Easter began as a fertility holiday. Bunnies, eggs, chicks, spring, and even the name, all point to Easter's origins long before it was associated with Christ.

Easter began way back in time as a holiday for the purpose of welcoming the rebirth of spring. At this time credit was given to the Fertility Goddess, Eastre (also referred to as Ostare, Eostre, and Eastur, Ishtar, among other similar names). Nearly every primitive culture or group had similar celebrations with similar ledgends. Spring was a happy time to celebrate those who lived through the winter, and to welcome the traditional time for the birthing of livestock.

In the story Eastre had a lover (or a pet depending which version of the legend you are following), who was a bird. Being magical she changed her lover's form into that of a rabbit, which is why he "lays eggs" to show his original form of being a bird. Yes, the Easter bunny is male. This is why even today we associated bunnies, eggs, and even chicks, with Easter.

Recall that Eastre was the Goddess of Fertility. Of course eggs have always been associated with fertility rituals and were used in Fertility rites for many ages. The egg is a symbol of renewal and new growth. Rabbits, as we know, have long been associated with fertility. In addition to their relationship in the legend above, rabbits and eggs do have a special connection. Rabbits like to sit in "nests" and a birds nest is no different. Many species of birds nest on the ground in the spring, so if a rabbit happens upon such a nest it is natural for it to rest upon the eggs and this will give the appearance it "laid" them.

Early pagans used to have Easter egg hunts, they even decorated and dyed the eggs, much as we do today. Eggs were always thought of as fertility symbols, so their importance on this day, and time of year was heightened.

Today many people have forgotten the ancient origins, and the true meaning, of this holiday. As with Christmas (also a holiday that also predates the time of Christ), Easter was too popular for people to discontinue, so the meaning was changed and through the ages many people have forgotten where it came from. New meanings were put on old traditions, and the origins of the fertility holiday known as Easter were all but forgotten.

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