When I looked up “History of the Easter Bunny” I found a whole lot of information on the goddess Eostre or Ostara, but one article in particular jumped out. It said that there was only really one reference to Ostara by an 8th century monk, Bede, and that he may have actually made her up (invented her). Interesting. This could be fake news from the year 725? Meanwhile, secular Easter traditions occur all over the world in 2017!
“Lore” of this ancient goddess includes her association with
a hare and her banishment of said rabbit to the sky (where he exists as a
constellation) and how she allowed the animal to come back once a year with
eggs. Many articles indicate that early Christianity, while trying to compete
with pagan traditions, set holy days to correspond with those traditions in
order to gain more converts by easing the cultural transition in this manner.
In our family we usually go to an Easter morning Mass, but this year Russ had to travel that morning. We went to the Saturday evening Mass instead and I really had no idea
that it would be two hours long and include a baptism and a confirmation, or that
the baby would patiently and quietly sit through the ENTIRE MASS! #Amazing. The
ladies behind us said I must have fed him holy water.
The priest spoke (jokingly) about some people being anxious
to resume the activities they gave up for Lent and that it might be better if
we let go of things that weren’t good for us anyway (gossiping, too much sugar, etc.). I totally stressed out trying to accomplish all kinds of
extra traditions – baskets from the Easter Bunny, egg coloring, family pictures, fresh flowers, and the meal after church. The stress of trying to get it all done brought me to tears and exhaustion. Why? What would be the big deal if we didn’t get to the
eggs? Or the baskets? Or the fresh flowers on the table? Or anything?
I can see the significance of Spring and rebirth with the
presence of bunnies and eggs. I appreciate the gratitude and newness that the
season brings and the Easter traditions that support and reinforce those
positive vibrations. So what of the origins if they create a positive experience?
Right??? There can be great comfort and joy in continuing family traditions and creating happy memories. But then… what about the stress of them if it all gets to be too much? How about letting that part go?
Hare’s to keeping all that serves us well, and allowing all
that does not serve us anymore to fall away like dead leaves. Here’s to the
rebirth. Here’s to the newness of spring and the clearing away of dust, clutter and that which weighs us down or stresses us out. Let every day be filled with new ideas, creativity, and new life.
Namaste,
T
Here's to honoring our traditions. Whatever they might be. xo
"You may ask how did this tradition get started? I'll tell you. I don't know."
For those who don't believe, no proof is possible."
- Stuart Chase
As for me? I believe.
This week, I am reminded of the Truth - that all things are possible, that magic exists, and that we can. "We can" what? We can - anything.
The following is from The New York Sun, 1897. I've always loved this Christmas editorial:
"WE TAKE PLEASURE IN ANSWERING THUS PROMINENTLY THE
communication below, expressing at the same time our great
gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the
friends of The Sun:
Dear Editor -
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there
is no Santa Claus. Papa says, "If you see it in The
Sun, it's so." Please tell me the truth, is there a
Santa Claus?
Virginia O'Hanlon
115 West Ninety Fifth Street
Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected
by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except
they see. They think that nothing can be which is not
comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia,
whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great
universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as
compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by
the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and
knowledge.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as
love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they
abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas!
how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It
would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be
no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable
this existence.
We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The
external light with which childhood fills the world would be
extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in
fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the
chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you
did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove?
Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no
Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that
neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies
dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they
are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders
there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise
inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not
the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the
strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith,
poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and
picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it real? Ah,
Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God! He lives and lives forever. A
thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years
from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood."
- "Is There a Santa Claus?" reprinted from the September 21,
1897, number of The New York Sun.
This year, I was moved by the writing of a nine year old little girl, Basya Fogelman, who read her winning essay aloud at the National Menorah Lighting in Washington, DC. I was also inspired and encouraged by Rabbi Levi Shemtov's comments, which immediately followed:
“Chanukah means different things to different people. To little kids, Chanukah means
presents. To adults, Chanukah means
spending time with family. To me,
Chanukah means going up. You might ask, ‘What does that mean?’ The second night
of Chanukah is symbolic of elevation or ‘going up’because every night you add
more light by lighting another candle. So
too does a Jew by doing this important mitzvah.
This mitzvah will lead to more. As
our sages say, ‘One good deed leads to another.’ We should try to do more good deeds every
day. It’s important to me to add more
light in honor of my grandmother who passed away on the second night of
Chanukah many years ago. My favorite
way to add light is to visit old and sick people and light the menorah and
sing Chanukah songs with them. When I
do this, I know I am not only elevating myself but my grandmother’s soul too.” - Basya Fogelman
“In your homes or via the live broadcast, know that you can
light a candle too.Even if you’re not
celebrating Chanukah, go warm up somebody’s life.Go do another good deed.Go make the world brighter than it would be
without you and in that way, you’re celebrating Chanukah too.Obviously, in the Jewish community we light
menorahs, but spreading light, good, and warmth in the world is a universal
opportunity and message.”- Rabbi Levi Shemtov
While the children are teaching us, here is another good find from Sesame Street, about Kwanzaa. I fondly remember learning all about Kwanzaa when my (then five year old) little sister came home from school and excitedly shared her entire lesson on the holiday with the whole family.
“Just as millions celebrate Irish culture on St. Patty's Day and Mexican culture on Cinco de Mayo, Kwanzaa has grown to fulfill Dr. Karenga's vision. The vision that people of all stripes celebrate the African culture and spirit.” - History.com
This holiday season, I'll keep in mind what the children have taught me. I will be warmed by the purity of love in their hearts and by the magic and spirit of family that fills the air. I will be reminded:
Life is simple. Choose Love. Choose Joy. Follow the Magic. Follow the Light.
Be Love. Be Joy. Be Magic. Be Light.
May we all have a joyous holiday season. May we love and appreciate each other for our uniqueness, for the variations and different traditions within our brotherhood and for the common bond which connects and unites all of us.
