Symbolic Meanings of Easter Icons

Easter is now a familiar celebration worldwide. It is the most significant day in the Christian calendar, commemorating the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead after being crucified on the cross.

Easter usually takes place on the last Sunday of March or the beginning of April each year.

While we have heard of familiar symbols on this day, such as Easter eggs and Easter candles, are they enough? Are we sure that we truly understand the meanings behind these symbols?

Here are the symbols and their meanings in the context of Easter celebration.

1. Easter Fire (Osterfeuer/Easterfire)

Rural inhabitants, living agricultural lives, rejoice as the cold winter passes, welcoming spring to begin sowing, planting, and harvesting. The origin of the ancient Easter fire lies in the fields, ignited on the first resurrection night, later giving rise to the Easter candle. The warmth of the winter fire, in times when conveniences like electric heating did not exist, brought comfort.

The Easter fire symbolizes the new light that God brought to humanity. Since 750 AD in France, the tradition of kindling the Easter fire began. Initially, people used two stones to create sparks, and over time, they learned to use combustible gases. By the 11th century in Germany, fire was used as an offering in religious ceremonies.

2. Easter Candle (Osterkerze/Eastercandle)

The Easter candle is lit from the Easter fire in front of the church on Easter night, sanctified according to age-old customs. The lit candle is then brought into the church. On Easter day, the candle is marked with the image of the cross, the rays of the sun, or flowing water.

On the candle, five nails are affixed, with the Greek letters alpha and omega above and below, signifying Jesus as the 'beginning and the end.' Surrounding the candle are inscriptions of the year and month.

3. Easter Egg (Ostereier/Easter egg)

Since the 12th century, on Holy Saturday (Ostersamstag), people boil and paint chicken eggs in vibrant colors, each carrying beautiful meanings: Red symbolizes luck, green for hope and innocence, yellow for wisdom, white for purity, orange for strength, etc. The eggs are then placed in baskets with other treats and brought to the church.

4. Easter Bunny (Osterhase/Easter bunny)

Folklore often imparts uplifting stories, like that of the gentle rabbit, a harmless creature. The Easter bunny emerged in 1678 when medical professor Von Georg Franck in Franckenau, teaching at Heidelberg University, acknowledged the rabbit as a symbol of abundant fertility. Easter eggs, painted in various colors, are cut in a way resembling bunnies brought by adults, giving rise to the tradition of bunnies and eggs.

From the city of Zurich, Switzerland, the depiction of the bunny and eggs during the Easter season originated. Candy manufacturers seized the business opportunity, producing handcrafted chocolate bunnies from 1875 until the early 20th century when machine production began.

5. Easter Flowers

Germans often use fresh branches, hang brightly colored eggshells, small chocolate bunnies for children, and common flowers such as daffodils, diamond violets, phlox, marigolds, and tulips.

6. Resurrection Butterfly

An essential symbol of the Easter celebration, it encapsulates the life of Jesus. Its lifecycle begins as a caterpillar, symbolizing His earthly existence. The second stage, the chrysalis, depicts the crucifixion and burial of Jesus. The third and final stage, the butterfly, represents His resurrection from the dead in a glorious and peaceful form.

Source: Laodong

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Reference: Mytour Travel Guide