Common Symbols of Easter and Their Meanings

You and your family probably celebrate Easter every year as millions of family do. If you have small children, you probably give them baskets that are filled with Easter eggs, chocolate rabbits, jelly beans, and other assorted goodies. You might even buy a new dress to wear at the holy day services at your local church. And, you might even host an egg hunt at home. Or, you take your children to an Easter egg roll at a local park.

We're all familiar with the common symbols of Easter, but do you have any idea where they originated from? Many symbols of this holiday were started in the Old World. They have been passed down from generation to generation, and they are still carried on in today's world.

The Lily flower, for example, is often displayed during this spring pageant. Characteristic of the the Lily is its ample, white blooms. It used to be that the beautiful "Madonna Lily" was designated as being the Eastertime flower. However, since it doesn't always come into bloom until late spring, it was replaced by the Bermuda Lily.

White is the color of "purity". The white lily represents the clean, pure life that comes to believers through the resurrection of their Lord Jesus Christ.

The Easter eggs came into being as a symbol of "new life." Usually, Easter eggs are hard-boiled chicken eggs. They were first colored by the pagans to resemble the return of the sunlight, as well as the Northern Lights in the sky. In several countries around the world, it's customary to decorate and give these eggs as gifts.

There's an old, old Christian legend that the Virgin Mary gave eggs to the Roman soldiers who captured her son, Jesus Christ. In return for the gifts, she begged them not to crucify him. As she begged, and the soldiers kept refusing her request, the legend goes that she cried tears which fell upon the eggs. Her tears turned into brightly colored spots. And that's why the custom of coloring and decorating eggs remains today.

In America, its customary to have Easter egg hunts. The decorated eggs are hidden by the adults, and the children find them and collect them in baskets.

The game of rolling Easter eggs originated in Europe. Now, however, there is an Easter Egg Roll at the White House in Washington, D.C. every year. Children race to a finish line by rolling hard-boiled eggs across the grass.

The cross and the crucifix are two other common symbols of the Easter holiday. The cross is a reminder to Christians that Jesus Christ beat death when he was resurrected from his grave. The crucifix, which is a cross that has a figure representing Jesus' body attached to it, shows the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made by hanging on the cross so that his follower's sins could be forgiven.

Rabbits and chicks stand for the rebirth of the earth. Rabbits are also associated with the fertility of spring because they can produce young at an astonishing rate. Undoubtedly the most popular rabbit, although he's fictitious, is "The Easter Bunny." The Easter Bunny supposedly brings Easter eggs and baskets filled with candy to all of the girls and boys.

And, finally, buying new clothes, especially white dresses and shirts, and wearing them on Easter Sunday is another common tradition. White symbolizes "purity" and "holiness." The new clothes stand for the new, unstained life that believers can receive through Jesus Christ.