The Easter Basket Of Yesterday And Today

With the arrival of spring comes the celebration of the easter gift">easter holiday - a time of significant religious remembrance and seasonal celebration. As part of easter gift">easter - whether you celebrate it religiously or not - children are visited by the Easter bunny, a mythical figure that delivers baskets of chocolates and treats to be found on Easter morning. The Easter basket, therefore, is an object that is integral to celebrating Easter with children - a symbol of the holiday that has endured for generations.

References to the Easter basket can be found throughout history; because Easter is also associated with the celebration of spring - a time of rebirth - there were often depictions of the fertility goddess Eostre being shown carrying a basket of eggs. Early on in Europe, it was customary to have your spring seedlings - carried by basket - blessed for the coming harvest. Later on, Catholic parishioners would bring baskets filled with food to Easter mass in order for it to be blessed.

When the tradition of the Easter bunny came to the United States sometime in the 18th century, along with it came the tradition of the Easter basket. Children would put out empty baskets the night before Easter; when they awoke the same baskets would be filled with treats.

Today, the Easter basket is a symbol of the holiday it celebrates. Many children receive a new basket each Easter - filled with the treats popular at the time. Other children have a special Easter basket that they use year to year - bringing it out each Easter to be filled by the Easter bunny.

Of course, the accessibility of retail outlets has allowed us to purchase any style and color of Easter basket that we choose. Some are simple and inexpensive; some are ornate and pricey. Still others are handmade creations handed down from generation to generation as a way to connect the family in the celebration of Easter.

No matter which Easter basket you choose to help your children celebrate this special holiday, make it one that will infuse your celebration with personality and tradition.