Eastertide Facts are well known, aren’t they?
Eastertide facts include the well-known story of the betrayal, arrest, trial and crucifixion of Jesus and his resurrection. They also include facts about the common Easter traditions such as chocolate eggs and bunnies. However, I have found ten pieces of information that I didn’t know. How about you?
A Dozen Unusual Facts About Eastertide
- The Easter Bunny tradition likely originated from the pagan festival of Eostre, which honored a goddess whose animal symbol was a rabbit. We all know rabbits have a high reproduction rate and are a symbol of fertility and new life, as is the egg.
- In medieval times, churches would hold “Easter laughter” (Risus Paschalis) where priests would tell jokes and funny stories during Easter sermons to celebrate joy after Lent.
- The people of Vegreville, Canada, claim they created the world’s largest Easter egg, although it was actually a giant Ukrainian-style pysanka. It weighed 5,000 pounds, stood 31 feet tall, and took over 12000 hours to complete.
- In Bermuda, people often fly kites on Good Friday to symbolize Christ’s ascension to heaven. These kites are often geometric, colorful, and hexagonal in shape.
- The White House Easter Egg Roll is one of many which people hold in various parts of the world. It dates back to 1878 when Rutherford B. Hayes was president, but people originally held it on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol.
- In parts of Eastern Europe, particularly Poland and Ukraine, there’s a tradition of “Śmigus-Dyngus” (Wet Monday). Boys sprinkle girls with water the day after Easter.
- The Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen gave Easter Island its name, because he first landed there on Easter Sunday in 1722.
- The tradition of dyeing Easter eggs dates back thousands of years to ancient Mesopotamia, where early Christians adopted the practice to symbolize the blood of Christ.
- In Florence, Italy, there is a tradition called “Scoppio del Carro” (Explosion of the Cart) in which people use a dove-shaped rocket to ignite a decorated cart filled with fireworks.
- In the early 20th century, people often made Easter eggs from cardboard, fabric, or papier-mâché.
I hope you found some of these facts interesting or amusing, whatever your religious beliefs. However, I also hope you will think about my recent post on the subject of the truth of the Easter story. In any case, I wish you a HAPPY EASTER!
Doubt and Faith. They are closer than people think! Eastertide is a good time to question your views.