When the chocolate bunnies come out, you know Easter is just around the corner. Not that Easter is all about chocolate. People celebrate this holiday according to their religious beliefs. Christians honor Good Friday April 15th, 2022 - as the day that Jesus Christ died and Easter Sunday April 18th, 2022 - as the day that he was resurrected. Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter and the day Jesus arrived in Jerusalem.
That Crazy Rabbit
The Easter Bunny is another story. He wasn't always the pink or white bunny that hides chocolate eggs in your house. Long ago, he was called the Easter Hare. Some say he was a large, handsome bird that belonged to Eostre, the Pagan Goddess of dawn, fertility and new beginnings. She changed him into a rabbit, which explains why the Easter Bunny now builds a nest and fills it with colored eggs.
Easter Around the World
In some countries, like England and Germany, kids roll eggs down hills on Easter morning - a game that is kinda like the rolling of the rock away from Jesus Christ's tomb when He was resurrected. Even the President gets in on the Easter fun. At the White House in Washington, DC, kids under 12 get to roll hard-boiled eggs down the hilly lawn. Lots of families, around the world, have Easter egg hunts. And of course, there's always the big Easter dinner.
Did You Know?
- More than 118 million cards will be exchanged a year on Easter, making it the fourth largest card-sending event in the US.
- The white lily is a symbol of Christ's resurrection, and that is why it is sometimes referred to as an Easter lily.
- In 2002, more than 700 million Marshmallow Peeps were eaten in America!
- The Cadbury Creme Egg made its debut in 1971, and since then over 300 million eggs are produced each year.
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