Mountain Views News          Saturday, March 30, 2013

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Mountain Views-News Saturday, March 30, 2013 


EASTER BUNNY HISTORY

The Easter bunny has its origin in pre-Christian fertility lore. The Hare and the Rabbit 
were the most fertile animals known and they served as symbols of the new life 
during the Spring season. 

The bunny as an Easter symbol seems to have it's origins in Germany, where it was 
first mentioned in German writings in the 1500s. The first edible Easter bunnies 
were made in Germany during the early 1800s. These were made of pastry and sugar. 

The Easter bunny was introduced to American folklore by the German settlers who 
arrived in the Pennsylvania Dutch country during the 1700s. The arrival of the 
"Oschter Haws" was considered "childhood's greatest pleasure" next to a visit from 
Christ-Kindel on Christmas Eve. The children believed that if they were good the 
"Oschter Haws" would lay a nest of colored eggs. 

The children would build their nest in a secluded place in the home, the barn or the 
garden. Boys would use their caps and girls their bonnets to make the nests . The 
use of elaborate Easter baskets would come later as the tradition of the Easter bunny 
spread throughout the country. 

OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder

WILL THE EASTER BUNNY JUST HOP 
AWAY......PLEASE?!

 I am what many people 
refer to as a purist. Many do not understand or 
know what a purist is so let me explain.

 No, a purist is not a Puritan, although I have 
nothing against Puritans and lean heavily in their 
direction. After all, I think it is better to be radical 
in the right direction than radical in the wrong 
direction, as many people are today. I think the 
Puritans are getting a bad rap today.

 A purist, however, is someone who likes things 
just the way they are. No additives. No upgrades. 
No unnecessary changes. If my light bulb goes 
out, I want to change. That is the limit for change, 
except maybe some of it that jingles in my pocket.

 Have you ever noticed that once you are 
comfortable with a computer program and 
really like it, someone will upgrade it until 
it is a completely different program with no 
relationship to the one you love? I hate that. 
When you got something that works, do not try 
to fix it. That is one of the basic rules of life.

 It is a rule I have been trying to explain to the 
Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage for years. I 
keep telling her I am not broken and therefore I 
do not need fixing. It has become the mission of 
her life to upgrade me. Can 
you imagine that? I love me 
the way I “are.”

 Some people are more 
like soup than anything else. 
Anything and everything 
goes into the pot. Not me. I 
like to savor something in its 
own environment.

 So, I am a purist in 
many regards, which can 
best be seen from my point 
of view in holidays. I like 
holidays but I do not like 
all of the upgrading and 
embellishments attached to 
every holiday you can think 
of, except perhaps April 1. 
We know who celebrates 
that holiday.

 I would like to enjoy a 
holiday sometime without all 
of the extras. At Christmas 
time I want to celebrate the 
purpose of Christmas, I have 
no idea what a Santa Claus 
with reindeer, and Frosty 
the Snowman have to do with Christmas. This is 
rather confusing to me. What are we celebrating 
at Christmas? If you follow the commercials, you 
have no idea what holiday is being celebrated.

 For Easter, I would like to strip away all of 
the trappings, all of the hype and just celebrate it 
for what it is. What do the Easter bunny and the 
Easter egg have to do with Easter?

 I would be open to having a holiday for the 
Easter bunny, another holiday for the Easter 
egg and if you want to get technical, a holiday 
for Santa Claus, one for Rudolph the red-nose 
reindeer and a separate one for Frosty the 
Snowman. When you put it all together, it just is 
rather confusing to me.

 I know who is in charge of these holidays. A 
holiday is not to celebrate but rather a holiday 
is to make money. Some people, and I will not 
mention any names, have never seen a holiday 
they did not want to make a buck. Maybe every 
holiday should be called “Buck Day,” where we 
celebrate and honor the almighty dollar.

 One more holiday I would suggest is one with 
no commercials and no selling whatsoever. A 
holiday where you would be fined dearly if you 
bought anything. A holiday from buying would 
suit me just fine.

 I know my critics will say that unless somebody 
buys something, nobody makes anything. I have 
no problem with that. Wouldn’t it be nice to have 
a holiday where that kind of thing was not front 
and center?

 The value of the Easter bunny is how much 
money it can make for the person sponsoring the 
holiday.

 I have seen a very interesting thing and I just 
cannot quite explain it. Just before the Easter 
holiday and leading up to it, all the Easter candy 
is at a premium price. Then, after Easter, this 
same Easter candy is at a hefty discount in the 
stores. What has changed?

 Could it be that the older something gets the 
less it is worth?

 Of course, I am beginning 
to feel that way myself, as I 
get older. (Thanks, Uncle 
Sam.)

 As a purist, I would like to 
celebrate a holiday for once 
without all of the rigmarole 
and shenanigans. A holiday 
where nobody will pester 
me. A holiday where I can 
shut out the world and enjoy 
the comforts of home and 
family.

 If I have not offended 
anybody up to now, let me 
take this a step further.

 It would be nice to have 
a holiday when all media 
would shut down. No 
television. No radio. No 
telephone or cell phone. No 
Internet.

 I know I am a radical, but 
I think it would be nice some 
time just to close out the 
world and remember the things that have value.

 Even Jesus understood this in his time. “And 
he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into 
a desert place, and rest a while: for there were 
many coming and going, and they had no leisure 
so much as to eat” (Mark 6:31 KJV).

 Therefore, I would like all of these things to 
hop along away, and let me enjoy the things that 
really have value to me before I simply come 
apart.

 Rev. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of 
God Fellowship, PO Box 831313, Ocala, FL 34483. 
He lives with his wife, Martha, in Silver Springs 
Shores. E-mail jamessnyder2@att.net. His web 
site is www.jamessnyderministries.com.


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