According to Britannica.com, Easter has accumulated many traditions, some of which have nothing to do with the Christian celebration of the Resurrection but derive from folk customs.
The custom of the Easter lamb has a two-fold origin. The lamb is a reference to Jesus, as in John 1:29, “behold the lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world.” The lamb was also used as a sacrificial animal in ancient Israel. In those days Christians placed lamb meat under the altar to be blessed before eating it on Easter. Since the 12th century the Lenten fast has ended on Easter with meals of eggs, ham, cheeses and bread along with sweets that had been blessed for the occasion.
The first recorded mention of decorated Easter eggs was in the 13th century. Eggs were prohibited as part of the diet during Holy Week, but chickens continued to lay eggs during that week, of course, so the idea of identifying those as “Holy Week” eggs brought about their decoration. A symbol of the Resurrection, the egg symbolizes the emergence of new life.
The custom of associating a rabbit or bunny with Easter came about in Protestant areas in Europe in the 17th century but didn’t become common for 200 years. The rabbit is said to lay the eggs as well as decorate and hide them. In a way, this was a manifestation of the Protestant rejection of Catholic Easter customs. In other European counties other animals brought Easter eggs. In Switzerland there is the Easter cuckoo. In the Westphalia region of Germany, the fox brought the eggs.
No matter what customs have been created through the years, the fact remains that Easter is the Christian celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
