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Which came first - Easter, the egg or the chocolate ? T he egg has long been a symbol of renewal and rebirth. Though the feast is a moveable one, Easter falls on the first Sunday after the full moon which occurs on or after the Spring Equinox. Lambs and rabbits are born, chickens and birds are hatched and new plant life growth is showing  after the cold dormant winter. Easter is a Christian celebration today, but has been adapted from older traditions. Symbols of rebirth and traditional sacrifice come from the Norsemen's Easyat, Ostara and Ostar and the pagan goddess Eostre, all involving the time of the growing sunshine and new birth. Ancient Egyptians, Persians, Phoenicians and Hindus believed that the world began with an enormous egg, and so the egg as a symbol of new life has been around for thousands/millions of years. The Easter Bunny most likely arose  as a symbol of fertility due to the rapid reproduction of rabbits. But what of the chocolate ? Painted and decorated eg...

Which came first – Easter, the egg or the chocolate ? The egg has long been a symbol of renewal and rebirth. Though the feast is a moveable one it falls in the springtime season when baby animals such as lambs, bunnies and chickens are foremost in our minds and the buds plant life are showing that re-growth is all around us. Easter is a Christian celebration but has been adapted from pagan traditions. Symbols of rebirth, and traditional religious sacrifice coming from the Norsemen’s, Eastar, Ostara, and Ostar, and the pagan goddess Eostre, all involving the time of the growing sun and new birth. Ancient Egyptians, Persians, Phoenicians and Hindus all believed the world began with an enormous egg, so the egg as a symbol of new life has been around for centuries. The Easter Bunny arose originally as a symbol of fertility, due to the rapid reproduction of rabbits. But what of the chocolate ? Painted and decorated eggs have been given as gifts during this festival by all cultures an...

Today, many people celebrate Easter Day, when according to Christian scriptures, Jesus was resurrected from the dead after his crucifixion. It is a concept which I was brought up on, my father being a lay preacher in the Methodist Church, but a very difficult one (for me) to believe in or understand. Over the years as I have grown up, my beliefs and opinions have changed dramatically from total belief through total lack of understanding and all the possible feelings in between. If I am asked now exactly what I believe, I have to say that I am not sure – I am still learning. It is not easy to put aside an almost inbred culture and way of life that I have known since childhood, despite my study and struggle to understand. Some days I have great respect for those who have such a strong faiths; other times I am confused at how such intelligent minds can believe in such things. But then, that is faith. Whether we have a faith or not, there can be no doubt that the Christian message is one ...