Easter: history, traditions and Black Hills Gold cross necklaces

Most people associate Easter with the religious celebration of the resurrection of Christ. It is interesting to learn that there are many other customs and legends about Easter that go back hundreds of years.

The pagan origins trace back to the “goddess of spring and fertility”, as was honored by several ancient societies such as the Scandinavians, Saxons and Teutonians as far back as the 8th century. In those previous times, the rabbit was considered a symbol of fertility, while the egg, which is still painted with colorful patterns today, symbolized the sunlight of spring. In old traditions, eggs were exchanged as gifts. Since those times, both the rabbit and the Easter egg have remained an integral part of modern Eastern celebrations.

In societies where Christianity dominates, Easter is about the resurrection of Christ and as such is the most important holiday. Even the Christian Easter celebration, however, picks from several traditions, the strongest connection being to the Jewish celebration of Passover, which remembers the exodus of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery.

The idea of gift giving has prevailed from old traditions. If you are looking for some gift-giving ideas that have a connection to the actual Easter celebration, visit BlackHillsGoldSource.com where you can find a variety of religious jewelry for Easter, including Black Hills Gold cross necklaces, earrings and lockets, from Landstroms.