| Now to the point. I still have my little yellow bunny
my dad gave when I was about 11 or 12 years old. Thinking about Easter, I started
wondering how did we get from Christ, the cross, resurrection, (the whole Christian thing)
to stuffed Easter Bunnies and marshmallow Peeps? Well, many of you probably know. But for those that don't, here is a brief
overview. And just in case you are REALLY interested, I've provide links to some of those
others sites and you can read until the cows come home. But if you're one of those
"just the facts mam" kind of guys/gals like me, then this should tell you all
you need to know, and then some.
I know some of you are answering the
"how did we get here from.. " question with BLATANT COMMERCIALISM... Hummm,
close, but not quite. Please read on.
Easter. So, What's in a Name?
It is believed (by those that believe
it) that the word Easter is derived from Oestar, or Eostre, the goddess of Spring and
renewal. The goddess was totally into spring celebrations so the annual tradition begins.
Easter Eggs
NO! Martha Stewart did NOT invent this
tradition. Eggs symbolize rebirth, new life, etc. etc. Egyptians, as well as Persians used
to dye eggs and give them as gifts to symbolize the renewal of life. (This has to be true,
because I read it on the web). And then, sometime after that, Martha discovered it....
Easter Bunnies
I was going to make a joke about how you'd have to be a hare-brain
(get it??) to not know... but then I decided against it. Bunnies, being the prolific
beasts they are, became the icons of fertility for the ancient Egyptians. As you can see,
the Egyptians are getting a lot of credit for this Easter thing.
Easter Parades -
Frolicking While Rome Burns
The Roman Emperor Constantine has alleged to
be responsible for starting the traditional Easter Parade. It seems the common folk were
ordered to dress up in their Sunday-Best to observe the Holy Day. That's one of the nice
things about being an Emperor, you get to do things like proclaim "Easter Shall Be
Sunday" and make it stick.. One thing led to another and all those dressed up people
started sashaying around and thus the parade thing began. (Something like that).
Crosses, Easter Lilies
Much of the religious accoutrema we've come to associate with Easter
in the U.S. comes from the Christians. This part of history is best left to those with
more religious background than I have. So there are some links at the bottom of the page
for more help. Suffice to say, other religions get in the act besides Christians. So
if religious history is your thing, think expansively.
 (animated Peep, property of JustBorn.com)
Peeps
Yes, and now the true symbol of Easter. Peeps are produced by the
Just Born, Inc candy company in Bethlehem, PA. The short version of this story is Russian
inventor, Sam Born comes to the U.S. in 1910. He starts a manufacturing company in 1923.
He's pretty good at this corporate thing and acquires Rodda Candy Company of Lancaster,
Pennsylvania in 1953. Now these guys invented the three-dimensional marshmallow Easter
"Peep" but their manufacturing process was not quite up to snuff for Mr. Born so
he finds a way to mechanize the process, and the rest, is as they say "history".
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