As I sit here waiting for inspiration to kick in for my special Easter Saturday blog, I’m sipping a coffee and munching on a chocolate rabbit. I began with its ears and I’m now down to it’s belly button. It’s been a while since I’ve consumed this much chocolate in one sitting, so I’m beginning to feel rather queasy. Perhaps I’ll let it sit on my desk, topless, until my stomach can regroup.
Now, I know the purists among you will be shaking your heads at my wanton disregard for tradition (hot cross buns on Good Friday and eggs on Easter Sunday) but in my defence let me point out, it’s only a rabbit. We all know that eggs are a symbol of new life and therefore it’s been easy to adapt that symbolism to fit with Easter: new chick hatching out of egg = Jesus, breaking out of the tomb; new life in egg = new life given by Jesus etc.
I’ve really missed having a piece of choccy with my coffee. Stupid diet. Perhaps I could risk a little bit of… Nope! My stomach needs a bit more time. I’ll just sip the coffee for now.
On the other hand, rabbits are an ancient, pagan symbol for fertility (no prizes for guessing why). In the northern hemisphere Easter coincides with spring. Rabbits and eggs, both of which flourish in spring time, are natural symbols for this season. They represent fecundity, lush new growth and new life popping up after a dark, cold winter.
In the southern hemisphere this symbolism is rarely appreciated. First of all, Easter heralds the beginning of autumn, which leads us into winter not out of it. And, secondly, rabbits are rampant, destructive pests. (Except all those cute fluffy bunnies that are my friends’ pets.)
So, I feel no guilt whatsoever for eating a chocolate rabbit on Easter Saturday. (I’m back on the diet on Tuesday.)
Almost two-thirds of my coffee is gone! Come on stomach; show some stamina.
The big question is, what would Easter be without decorated eggs and chocolate rabbits, seafood on Friday, family barbecues and, here in Australia, a long weekend? I read somewhere recently – probably the internet – that Easter without chocolate would just be religious. Heaven forbid! That would mean all the non-believers would be forced to either contemplate their spiritual condition or, at the least, do without the mid-year camping trip.
Why, then it would be all about Jesus: his crucifixion and resurrection. It might actually mean something a little more substantial than chocolate.
The coffee is gone and half a chocolate rabbit is still sitting on my desk. It’ll keep for another day. I think I’ve had more than enough.
I wish you all a happy and meaningful Easter.
another sweet reflection Wendy, I hope the remainder of the bunny is demolished soon. Happy Easter!
Thank you, kind sir. Right back at you. 🙂
Hi Wendy, One of our members sang “Watch the Lamb” as the utube video was played at our Good Friday morning service. He has the most amazing voice and it was the highlight in my opinion. Where would we be without the Lamb?! I love chocolate. And I have eaten at least two thirds of an Easter bunny. But to miss the Lamb and to focus only on chocolate, bunnies and eggs is such a loss. God bless you and Jeff this easter in the great hope that is ours in Christ. x
Thank you for your comments, Julienne. And, welcome to my website. I hope you’ve enjoyed a wonderful Easter, too.
Before last Christmas in Sydney the retail environment was flat. Major retailers threw a hissy fit a couple of days before Christmas. They pulled out all the Christmas decorations from their stores and replaced them with Easter eggs and hot cross buns. We’ve been seeing hot cross buns ever since. I don’t think commercial interests are in the business of supporting symbolic aspects of our lives. I think they just want to sell us stuff.
If you are going to eat chocolate, try a bilby. Their chocolate ears are bigger and they don’t damage the landscape like rabbits. It also helps unhook the celebration from the northern hemisphere associations. In Australia we have seen Christmas unravel and parts of it migrate to July. I’ve begun to wonder why we don’t celebrate Easter in September.
Well technically, Ken, I think we’re meant to celebrate both occasions all year round. 🙂 But I hear you re commercial interests. I had wondered why the supermarkets were selling Easter stuff at Christmas time. Poor things must have been desperate.