The rabbit of the hour
45,000 spectators lined up along Neville Park Boulevard and Queen Street on Sunday to celebrate Easter. Children filled their baskets with chocolate eggs and watched the Easter Bunny wave atop a Corvette like he was the President. (Click here to see the Bunny in action)
But, it was missing one crucial element. Jesus. There was no sign of him. Not even a bearded man in the audience. So, where was he? After all it is his holiday. Easter is the celebration of Christ’s resurrection… or is it?
At first glance, the parade looked like it lost all traditional meanings of Easter; just another Hallmark holiday celebration. But, it’s actually more than that.
According to the popular website ask.com Easter includes many Pagan traditions – and the Easter Parade is a celebration of just that.
The word Easter comes from the name Eostre, the pagan goddess of rebirth. Her name is derived from the ancient word for spring. Every April pagans held a celebration in her honor.
Today, we celebrate Eostre by dressing floats in pastel colors and spring flowers, marking the yearly time of renewal.
Ever wonder why chocolate eggs are handed out and why baby chicks are all the rage this time of year? Well we have the ancient Egyptians, Persians and Hindus to thank for that. They believed the world started with a giant egg; another symbol of new life.
And perhaps the Easter Bunny’s appearance at the parade wasn’t to get kids excited about candy. Ok well, maybe it was. But, it’s also a symbol of fertility and reproduction. Rabbits are well known for their rapid reproduction habits.
So there you have it, Easter isn’t just about candy and stuffed bunnies, it’s about rebirth, renewal and a chance to celebrate life. And what better way to celebrate than with a good old fashion parade.
Toronto Beaches Easter Parade 2010 