Reaffirming Life in a Time of Pandemic

On Monday, April 6, 2020, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand, became the first world leader to declare the Easter Bunny an "essential worker" who's job of hiding Easter eggs and assorted treats would occur without government restriction during the 2020 coronavirus outbreak. Leaders of other countries around the globe quickly followed and as of this evening, April 12—Easter—it appears that the annual delivery of Easter baskets to children worldwide has gone off in as normal a manner as possible. Is there something especially important about this rabbit: the secular symbol of the Christian season of Easter? Well, yes and no.

Christians are not unique in their celebrations around this time of year. Most people the world over practice rites of spring in some form, many of them in observance of deeply held religious or spiritual beliefs. These activities include ancient traditions that predate Christianity. For example, indigenous people living along the Northwest Coast of North America including the Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations of British Columbia derive their spring practices from the Salish people whose language and culture developed between 3000 and 6000 years ago. The vernal equinox, still viewed as a time to honour the land, is a time spent among family and friends, and in the visualization and hope that a variety of foods will return in abundance as spring shifts into summer. Traditionally, families gather together to celebrate, and share whatever foods are left over from the winter. Bannock and tea is often served along with preserves made from berries collected throughout the previous summer. Ceremonial planting of sage and tobacco occurs at this time as a spiritual practice intended to bring about good health to the earth, and then later, to the people who will harvest these plants for use in smudging.

In the Middle East, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) released a proclamation in 2016 regarding the ancient Persian celebration of New Year which takes place at the vernal equinox. Nowruz, as it is called in Iran, is listed among the world’s, Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. This 12-day festival is observed in parts of Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Turkey. The holiday reflects the Zoroastrian perspective on Light’s victory over Darkness. Eggs are painted in the colours of spring and songs are sung to celebrate the arrival of the season. The New Year itself occurs on March 21 and is preceded by 30 days of intensive self-reflection, focusing on preparing one’s own spirit for renewal. This is often manifested outwardly through a thorough house cleaning and organizing of the home! One beautiful element of Nowruz is the presentation of the family’s, Ses, a traditional silver tray, circular in form, which symbolizes family unity. The Ses, decorated with flowers, holds within it items which signify a long and happy life. Next to it is placed a mirror used to gaze at oneself in order to make an honest assessment of how one is currently living their life. The individual then pledges to live as their best self, before making a wish for the new year. A needle and thread is among the items placed on the Ses, symbolic of repairing relationships and stitching together the family’s hopes for the new year. (note 1.)

Those who practice the Baha’i faith are found in every corner of the globe. Their underlying belief is that throughout history God has sent into the world a series of Manifestations of God—essentially, divine educators—whose teachings have collectively provided the basis for the advancement of human civilization. These Manifestations have included Abraham, Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad. The Baha’i are taught by Bahá’u’lláh, the latest of these Divine Manifestations, that each of the world’s religions come from the same source and are in essence successive chapters of one book, authored by one God. In the month leading up to the vernal equinox, fasting takes place as a means of preparation. The breaking of the fast occurs on the March equinox during a community meal where sacred Baha’i texts are read aloud to celebrate the arrival of the Spiritual, as well as actual, springtime. It is believed that each spring is the time of a new creation, when all things are now made new. (note 2.)

India also celebrates a major holiday at the time of the spring equinox. Ugadi is one of the most looked-forward-to festivals in India. Also known as Yugadi, which literally means, Start of a new Era in Sanskrit, this festival marks the beginning of a New Year in the Southern states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala.  In her article, Wisdom in our festivals: Why do we celebrate Ugadi?, author Devishobha Chandramouli describes the specific importance of one ritual meal in particular:

"The 'Ugadi Pacchadi' requires 6 ingredients—Raw mango, Neem, Tamarind, Jaggery, Chilli and Salt. Legend has it this amalgamated dish serves as a perfect representation of life itself—happiness, sorrow, anger, bitterness, surprise and fear. Today, social psychologists and behaviour therapists insist that every emotion needs to be welcomed for good emotional health. This ritual serves as the perfect understanding of the importance and the inevitability of every human emotion."  (note 3.)

Again, the theme of rebirth is visited here, whereby every human emotion is accepted and honoured in preparation for the New Year.

Although most North Americans are familiar with the traditions of the two most dominant religions on this continent, Judaism and Christianity, one cannot overstate the importance of Passover to those who follow Judaism, or the meaning of Easter to Christians. Both holidays honour a form of spiritual rebirth. Passover commemorates God’s deliverance of the Jewish people from a life of slavery in Egypt and, led by Moses, across the desert in freedom as they travel toward the Promised Land. It symbolizes hope and new life. And for Christians, Easter is the fulfillment of God’s promise. There is no need to fear death for all are invited into eternal life in God through the literal resurrection of His son, Jesus, following his death on the cross for our sins. This is the Good News believed by Christians the world over: There is an alternative to death because salvation has been given to the world through the Saviour, Jesus the Christ.

So, why was the role of the Easter Bunny elevated to the level of Essential Worker this year? It seems it is in human nature to look for and honour the cycles of life, death and rebirth. This year, perhaps more so than at any previous time in modern history, the world is holding its collective breath, looking for signs of hope, resurrection, and opportunities for our new lives to begin.

In other words, we are all looking for signs of spring.

1. UNESCO.org

2. bahai.org

3. kidskintha.com/why-we-celebrate-ugadi; 2018