Spring has always been celebrated as a time of rebirth and new beginnings so is it any wonder that in Paganism, the rabbit or hare served as strong symbol in their rituals.
Hares and rabbits, as well as eggs, have always been symbolic of fertility and highly associated with Spring, since many animals give birth at this time of year. Many Christian celebrations were hybrids of (or downright hijacked versions of ) Pagan beliefs, and it would seem logical that Easter is one of those occasions.
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| The Easter bunny probably has about as much to do with Easter as Jesus Christ |
The Germanic people celebrated what was called Eostre, which means dawn and has purported to be named after the Anglo Saxon goddess of the same name. The symbolism of Christ dying and being reborn in what was Spring time is akin to the pagan rituals of Winter dying and Spring bringing new life to the earth.
Of course, Christians aren't the only peoples celebrating these traits at this time of year, as Hindus hold their Holi festivals and Japanese have what is called Sakura, when the cherry tree blossoms.
Rabbits and hares also figure prominently in many cultures, and throughout many centuries, as far back as the Sui Dynasty in 6th and 7th century China. This is particularly true of the three hare symbol. which has shown up in Mongol metalwork, Iranian coins, an Islamic built shrine found in southern Russia, cave drawings and pottery in the Orient, and many churches and cathedrals in parts on the U.K. and Germany.
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| Paderborn Cathedral |
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| This wooden carving is found under the eave of a medieval roof in Devon England |
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| This motif is found on a tombstone in the Ukraine |
Rabbits and hares have also shown up in Mayan and Aztec cultures, often associated with other gods/goddesses relating to fertility, such as Ixchel. Interestingly, the Aztecs also had a belief in the 400 drunken rabbits, which is the subject of a future post.
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| Mayan goddess of fertility, Ixchel, with a hare |
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