New Directions takes orders for the Easter Bunny
Mar. 30—GREENSBURG — The Easter Bunny has made specific plans to visit some lucky Greensburg residents, and the staff at New Directions Domestic Violence Shelter is helping him with his schedule, while raising some funds to help continue their work defeating domestic violence in the SE Indiana area.
If you live in Decatur County and want to make sure the kids get a visit from the jolly old "hare," you can go to the New Directions website at www.mynewdirections.org/ or call (812) 662-8223.
For $25, the Easter Bunny can leave 24 candy filled eggs in your yard before the sun comes up on Easter morning. For $35, he'll leave the kiddies 48 eggs. If you'd like the kids to have a really good time for $50, 72 eggs can be delivered magically, and for $60, the whole yard will be strewn with the wonder that 96 eggs can bring.
According to Wikipedia, the fuzzy flop-eared symbol of Easter originated among German Lutherans and he originally played the role of a judge, evaluating whether children were good or disobedient in behavior, similar to the "naughty or nice" list made by Santa Claus.
As part of the legend, he brings colored eggs in his basket along with candy and toys to the homes of well-behaved children.
In ancient times, it was widely believed that the hare was a hermaphrodite, or consisting of male and female, and able to reproduce asexually. The idea that a hare could reproduce without loss of virginity led to an association with the Virgin Mary, with hares sometimes occurring in illuminated manuscripts and Northern European paintings of the Virgin and Christ Child.
And as for Easter eggs...
Eggs have been used as fertility symbols since antiquity. They became a symbol in Christianity associated with rebirth as early as the 1st century A.D.in medieval Europe, when eating them was prohibited during the fast of Lent. A common practice in England at that time was for children to go door-to-door begging for eggs on the Saturday before Lent began. People handed out eggs as special treats for children prior to their Lenten fast.
As a special dish, eggs would probably have been decorated as part of the Easter celebrations. Later, German Protestants retained the custom of eating colored eggs for Easter, though they did not continue the tradition of fasting.
Eggs boiled with some flowers change their color, bringing the spring into the homes, and some over time added the custom of decorating the eggs. Many Christians of the Eastern Orthodox Church to this day typically dye their Easter eggs red, the color of blood, in recognition of the blood of the sacrificed Christ.
Some also use the color green, in honor of the new foliage emerging after the long-dead time of winter. According to Nancy Gaifyllia in "Your Guide to Greek Food" on About.Com, the Ukrainian art of decorating eggs for Easter, known as "pysanky," dates to ancient, pre-Christian times.
The idea of an egg-giving rabbit was brought to the U.S. in the 18th century by Protestant German immigrants and the Pennsylvania Dutch, who told their children about the "Osterhause" (Easter Bunny). According to the legend, only good children received gifts of colored eggs and candy before Easter.
The Easter Bunny doesn't like to tangle with overexcited dogs, so he prefers the yards he "blesses" be pet free.
Deadline for placing an order is April 12.
Contact Bill Rethlake at 812-651-0876 or email bill.rethlake@greensburgdailynews.com