The History of Easter and the Easter Bunny

By Arlene Wright-Correll
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Since its conception as a holy celebration in the second century, Easter has had its non-religious side. In fact, Easter was originally a pagan festival.

The ancient Saxons celebrated the return of spring with an uproarious festival commemorating their goddess of offspring and of springtime, Eastre. When the second-century Christian missionaries encountered the tribes of the north with their pagan celebrations, they attempted to convert them to Christianity. They did so, however, in a clandestine manner.

Long ago in the ancient world of the Ojibwe Nation, the Clans were all located in one general area of that place known as Turtle Island. This is the way that the old Ojibwe storytellers say how Asibikaashi (Spider Woman) helped Wanabozhoo bring giizis (sun) back to the people. To this day, Asibikaashi will build her special lodge before dawn. If you are awake at dawn, as you should be, look for her lodge and you will see this miracle of how she captured the sunrise as the light sparkles on the dew which is gathered there.

Asibikaasi took care of her children, the people of the land, and she continues to do so to this day. When the Ojibwe Nation dispersed to the four corners of North America, to fill a prophecy, Asibikaashi had a difficult time making her journey to all those cradle boards, so the mothers, sisters and Nokomis (grandmothers) took up the practice of weaving the magical webs for the new babies using willow hoops and sinew or cordage made from plants.

The Navajo creation story involves three underworlds where important events happened to shape the Fourth World where we now live.

The Navajo were given the name Ni'hookaa Diyan Diné by their creators. It means "Holy Earth People" or "Lords of the Earth". Navajos today simply call themselves "Diné", meaning "The People". The Tewa Indians were the first to call them "Navahu", which means "the large area of cultivated land". The Mexicans knew them as "Apaches Du Nabahu" (Apaches of the Cultivated Fields), where "Apache" (Enemy) was picked up from the Zuni Indian language. The "Apaches Du Nabahu" were known as a special group somewhat distinct from the rest of the Apaches. Alonso de Benavides changed the name to "Navaho" in a book written in 1630. The English name the Diné officially use for themselves is "Navajo". Recently, Navajos have been referring to call themselves by their original name, "Diné".

One day long ago, when souls could still return from the Land of the Spirits, the Sun looked down upon the Earth. 'The People of the Mountain do not like me," she said to her brother, the Moon. "See how they twist up their faces when they look to the sky."

"Ah. but they love me." replied the Moon. "They smile when they see me, and they make music and dance and send me songs."

This did not please the Sun. for she thought she was more important than her brother, and more deserving.

That night, as she always did. the Sun visited her daughter for the evening meal. "How can The People love my brother and not me?" she asked. "I will show them it is unwise to offend me!" And the next, she sent scorching heat onto the land.

There was another world before this one.  But the people of that world did not behave themselves.  Displeased, the Creating Power set out to make a new world.  He sang several songs to bring rain, which poured stronger with each song.  As he sang the fourth song, the earth split apart and water gushed up through the many cracks, causing a flood.  By the time the rain stopped, all of the people and nearly all of the animals had drowned.  Only Kangi the crow survived.