Sunday, March 23, 2008 It's Easter! By Jenara Regis Newman
CHRIST is risen!
This is the good news today in Christendom, because it affirms the divinity of Jesus Christ and the reality of the life to come!
For Catholic Filipinos, it is a time to be up early dawn to witness the “Sugat,” meaning the meeting of the risen Christ and His sorrowing mother, Mary. For others, it may mean an Easter egg hunt.
Like Christmas, which has become an occasion for gift-giving, Easter has evolved in Western countries as a time for an egg hunt.
It is a practice that is slowly finding its way locally in some family Easter celebrations, whether at home or in establishments like hotels, which break out in joy after the Holy Week pall of gloom. This is done through an Easter egg hunt for kids to entice adults to patronize the hotel for Easter breakfast or brunch.
Like some rituals, the origin of the egg hunt is lost in myths, all of which, says Wikipedia, can be only surmised as the origin. But the most logical would be the one associated with the pagan goddess Eostre, who is associated with eggs and hares. The name of the holiday is also obviously taken after her name.
Another possible origin would be that in early Christian times, the faithful were not allowed to eat meat and dairy, including eggs, during Lent. So, on Easter Sunday, breaking their abstinence, they could celebrate and eat meat and eggs, as is, or mixed with other food they would prepare for this glorious day.
Whatever (and whoever) started the tradition of the Easter egg hunt, it does seem an appropriate celebration for Easter, especially in temperate countries where Easter comes in spring. It is a season of new life, of regrowth, eggs being widely regarded as a symbol of fertility and new life.
With Christ risen, there is indeed new life, and hope for life eternal! Happy Easter!
