Like many celebrated Christian holidays, the symbols of Easter are a blend of pre-Christian imagery, foreign customs, and religious iconography. Unlike the traditions of holidays like Christmas, however, which vary widely across the world, Easter imagery remains much the same way wherever you go, with egg-laying bunnies, Easter baskets, decorated eggs, tasty treats, and springtime flowers.

From Bunnies to Baskets
The Easter bunny has its origins in pre-Christian fertility lore, where rabbits and hares served as symbols of new life and the spring season. As a symbol of Easter, history points to 16th century Germany, where the Easter bunny, or Oschter Haws, is first mentioned in writing.

German immigrants settling in Pennsylvania Dutch colonies brought the tradition to America in the 1700s. According to custom, children would build secret nests in and around their home. If the children behaved, the Oschter Haws would lay brightly colored eggs in the nests. As the practice grew in popularity, nests evolved over time into the Easter baskets we see today.

 As far as egg-laying rabbits and hares are concerned, this joining likely sprung from confusion caused by hares nesting at ground level, and the profusion of nearby plovers’ nests. Plovers, or wading birds, nested on the ground in areas similar to the hares’ hollows. Come spring, eggs would be found in what appeared to be hares’ hollows, giving rise to the belief in anthropomorphic bunnies.

For a listing of Phoenix area Easter celebrations, Easter egg hunts, and parades, visit http://phoenix.about.com/od/events/a/easter.htm.

The Eggs
A salute to spring, eggs have been decorated for much of recorded history. Pagans dyed eggs for spring festivals during the ancient times of Greece, Rome, and Persia to celebrate the rebirth of the earth. The practice was later adopted by early Christians as a symbol of resurrection. In medieval Europe, eggs, a valuable commodity for trade and payment, were also decorated and given as gifts.

For egg decorating ideas and tips from Imagination Avenue, click here.

Easter Blooms
Their trumpet shaped blossoms and white color symbolize purity, hope, and new life. Easter lilies, or Lilium longiflorum, are traditional symbols of Easter and of the promises of spring. Their white blooms have been linked to themes of motherhood, resurrection, and hope, from Roman mythology to the bible. Sold as potted plants rather than cut stems, the Easter lily is currently the fourth most popular potted plant in the U.S.

The plants are most often sold as single, double, or triple stems, with each stem holding anywhere from 3 - 12 blooms. “We always order the Easter Lilies early, so they arrive at the store with time to open up,” says Bill Dennick of Esta’s Flowers in Chandler. “Keep them watered and in direct sunlight, and they should give you plenty of enjoyment.”

Cut lilies are also popular choices for springtime flower arrangements, and come in a multitude of colors. Nothing shows off their simple elegance like a clear crystal or glass vase, and a trumpet or tapered shape container will allow the flowers to fan out naturally. “Cut lilies usually take 2-3 days to open if you purchase them closed,” Dennick says. “When you’re making your own arrangement, the most important thing to remember is that every flower has a face. If you can work with the natural qualities of each flower, then you can put something really special together.”