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The important symbols and their
significance are detailed below :
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The
Cross
The Cross is the symbol of the Crucifixion, as
opposed to the Resurrection. However, at the Council of Nicaea,
in A.D. 325, Constantine decreed that the Cross was the official
symbol of Christianity. The Cross is not only a symbol of
Easter, but it is more widely used, especially by the Catholic
Church, as a year-round symbol of their faith.
The Easter Bunny
The Easter Bunny is not a modern invention. The symbol
originated with the pagan festival of Eastre. The goddess,
Eastre, was worshipped by the Anglo-Saxons through her earthly
symbol, the rabbit.
The Germans brought the symbol of the Easter rabbit to America.
It was widely ignored by other Christians until shortly after
the Civil War. In fact, Easter itself was not widely celebrated
in America until after that time.
The Easter Egg
As with the Easter Bunny and the holiday itself, the Easter Egg
predates the Christian holiday of Easter. The exchange of eggs
in the springtime is a custom that was centuries old when Easter
was first celebrated by Christians.
From the earliest times, the egg was a symbol of rebirth in most
cultures. Eggs were often wrapped in gold leaf or, if you were a
peasant, colored brightly by boiling them with the leaves or
petals of certain flowers.
Today, children hunt colored eggs and place them in Easter
baskets along with the modern version of real Easter eggs --
those made of plastic or chocolate candy.
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