When we think of Easter, what comes to mind? Easter bunnies, egg hunts, pastel colors? But what does Easter really mean? What are we actually celebrating? How do bunnies, eggs, and lambs relate to Jesus rising from the dead?

Easter is a very important holiday for Christians. It celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, three days after his crucifixion. Some say the name, Easter, is derived from Eostre, a goddess of spring and fertility. Other people say it comes from the hebdomada alba, meaning white week referencing the white clothing people wore when getting baptized. In Spanish and French, the words, Pascua and Paques come from the latin words meaning Passover. The Passover represents when Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. Many of the symbols from Easter come from old German stories.

Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them,“We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”

Holy Week is the week leading up to Easter. Palm Sunday starts Holy week. It represents when Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, where Palms were laid out on the street. The Last Supper is celebrated on the Thursday of Holy Week. It represents the final dinner Jesus and his disciples had before his crucifixion. On Good Friday, Jesus Christ was crucified on Calvary, paying the debt for all of our sins. He was buried on the same day and was resurrected three days later. The day known as Easter.

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)

1. The Bunny

The bunny represents Jesus coming out of the tomb. As a rabbit comes out of its burrow in the ground, Jesus came out of the tomb after the stone was rolled away. The rabbit is also known as a sign of fertility and spring.

2. Easter Eggs

Eggs are often viewed as symbols of life. Many people used to bring eggs to the church and get them blessed with holy water. In 1290, Edward I of England purchased eggs for his royal family, and wished them to be colored.

3. Easter Egg Hunt

In an old German tale, children were hunting for pretzels and hiding them in nests with bird eggs. Another story explains how an old woman hid brightly colored eggs in her garden for children to find.

4. Lambs

In the Bible, the lamb of God is known as Jesus Christ. Lambs were also very commonly sacrificed. The lamb at Easter represents the sacrifice Jesus made when he died on the cross for our sins.

Easter has now become more commercialized rather than religious. Some people only celebrate the holiday for the candy, eggs and adorable bunnies.