According to Anglo Saxon legend, the goddess Ēostre found a poor wounded bird in the forest and, to help it escape, she turned it into a hare. It hopped away, gratefully. Because it was once a bird and was now a hare, it found that it could lay eggs. I’m not sure why Ēostre didn’t just turn the wounded bird into a healthy bird but that’s the ancients for you.
I have found a very odd connection between hares and the virgin Mary. Apparently, it was once believed that hares were hermaphrodites and, therefore could mate with themselves. This meant (somehow) that they’d have babies and still be virgins. The Christian church for some bizarre and inexplicable reason, decided to link them with Mary. This, I think, is so the church could appropriate the true meaning of eggs and rabbits and pretty colours.
The rabbit (and hare) and the egg are strong symbols of fertility. The flowers that have started springing forth now that it’s spring, are strong symbols of renewal and the colours, so perfect in nature, are repeated on eggs. This makes for the perfect combination of new birth leading to a better year.
And therein is the difference. Mary gives birth to Jesus and remains a virgin which, rather than a new beginning and a fresh start is actually maintaining the status quo. So, clearly, Jesus had to die and then be resurrected which would be a new start; a renewal for mankind. Dying to save us sinners…that sort of thing.
Of course the reason we now have chocolate eggs is because some genius figured out the best way to get people to spend lots of money at Easter and not just Christmas and birthdays, was by supplying chocolate shaped eggs. They also last longer than fresh eggs. And kids love them. Actually, so do most adults. A genius indeed.
And, I assume, that is why the church has decided we have our eggs on Sunday because that’s the day of renewal, when Jesus left his tomb and took a stroll in the countryside, frightening various apostles.
Anyway, we had a lovely Good Friday and on Sunday, I’ll be making simnel cake again.
Mirinda leads the poodles up the hill
