I can quite understand the Sainsbury's confusion.

Jesus was born at Xmas. Right. We get that.

He died on "Good" Friday (not for him).

So I suppose Easter was resurrection?

But why rabbits and eggs and chicks?

JK2006 wrote:

But why rabbits and eggs and chicks?

A sign of re-birth (the resurrection) ?

It an example of the Christians church taking over the existing festival days.

Easter = Anglo Saxon goddess, Eostre (I've seen other spellings).

The egg thing is because over winter chickens lay fewer eggs, they pick-up and lay more as the days get longer.

Rabbits, which do breed rather rapidly are a similar token of returning growth - Spring.

The rabbits, chicks and egg stuff predates Christianity.

As a kid , I used to believe Jesus died at 4 months old:dry:

but Mart, as Easter comes before Christmas - he must have died before he was born !

Bless Martin.

I think Jesus was the first Che Guevara, Castro and Karl Marx. The first rebel.

I never took too much to Christianity - it's all they teach at school .

My Grandad was a Baptist preacher, which caused me much use when I could get out of the usual church meetings at my school and attempt to find a Baptist church to go to instead(as an excuse), JK knows where this church is, as we were in he same town,at school, albeit different years.

That personal stuff all said, I love bank holidays, but hate Easter eggs and love the daffodils.
Life comes back after Winter, I wish I could see it as religous but I don`t.

Hi Mart

Don't confuse religion with spirituality. There's a lovely little village church not far from my home, and like most older small village churches it's a bit overgrown and round about May time is absolutely full of glorius rhoddodendrums (is that how you spell it?).

I've never actually been inside the church - but often sit and reflect in the churchyard - wonderfully quiet and peaceful (and about the last place where you can hear birdsong here).

I *believe* that the rabbits and eggs thing is more tied up with the Pagan festival that Easter seemed to have taken over from.

Strictly speaking Easter is a pagan festival.

It is the death and resurrection of a man-god that has taken over, as such.

Similar thing with Christmas where the festival of Mithras was co-opted.

Zoo?

Your lobster references are starting to cause mass hysteria here!

That new one is a classic!

Hi ITK , I like old Churches but they smell funny!

Mart wrote:
Zoo?

Your lobster references are starting to cause mass hysteria here!

That new one is a classic!

Hi ITK , I like old Churches but they smell funny!

I have a surprising store of lobster facts, boarding on the unhealthy

Mart

While on the subject of religious events (real or supposed) here's one that has always puzzled me.

Christ died on Good Friday - and rose again on the "3rd day" (so religion tells us).

To me, Saturday would be the first day, Sunday the 2nd, and the third day would be Monday??? How does everyone else manage to make it Easter Sunday??!!

Haha! Thats a very good point actually ITK!

I found this passage in the book of Mart, chapter 11 ,verse 12.

On the eighth day he spaketh tus.
"Oh no! It`s Monday I refuse to rise again!Desciples, heed my words and tell the faithful I did it on a Sunday in the name of my Father, now shut the curtains and leave me alone. Oh, and will somebody bring me some chocolate!"