¿De dónde viene la tradición del conejo de Pascua?

Esta semana se celebra la Semana Santa en los países de tradición católica. En cambio, en los países anglosajones se le denomina Easter (Pascua), y se celebra de una manera diferente, más relacionada con tradiciones paganas que con las religiosas. Hoy, los profesores de ABA English te hablaremos sobre el significado y el simbolismo detrás las tradiciones típicas de la Pascua en los países anglosajones. Lee los textos y después consulta el vocabulario.

The Easter bunny

The English term Easter comes from the pagan goddess Eostre, worshipped by the Saxons as a protector of fertility and new life.

The goddess Eostre was represented by a hare, or bunny, hence how we got the famous Easter bunnies in English.

Easter Eggs’ Symbolism

Why do we give Easter eggs? According to pagan tradition, the eggs symbolize the start of a new life, a new life that is reborn in spring and celebrated with the festival of the equinox. Giving eggs at Easter is a custom which dates back many years. It was originally a pagan tradition but was later adopted by monotheistic religions.

Easter Egg Hunt

On Easter Sunday in Anglo-Saxon countries like the UK or USA, it’s customary to have an Easter Egg Hunt with children looking for hidden Easter eggs.

Families hide the chocolate, painted or plastic eggs filled with treats in their garden or around the house. The children, who think the eggs are from the Easter Bunny, try to find them. Smaller children hide a basket in the garden for the Easter Bunny to leave eggs or other gifts in.

In fact, this tradition of hunting for eggs comes from Germany and spread to many countries such as the UK and USA through the arrival of German immigrants.

Vocabulario

Easter: Pascua
pagan: pagano/a
goddess: diosa
worshipped: venerado/a, adorado/a
hare: liebre
bunny: conejito
according to: según
to be reborn: renacer
spring: primavera
equinox: equinoccio
to date back: remontarse a, datar de
customary: de costumbre
hunt: cazar, recolectar
hidden: escondido/a
to hide: esconder
treat: golosina
basket: cesta
gift: regalo
to spread: extender
through: mediante, a través