■复活节的象征：复活节兔
Rabbits: The Symbol of Easter

The Easter bunny has arrived, chocolate Easter eggs are in the shops, the daffodils are out, and the weather is getting better!

Easter is a great time of year, but what are its origins?

Originally Easter was called Pascha after the Hebrew word for Passover, a Jewish festival that happens at this time of year. It was replaced by Easter, a word which is believed to have evolved from Eostre, the name of the Anglo-Saxon goddess of fertility[23] and springtime.

The date of Easter is determined by the lunar calendar[24]. In 2008, the Easter weekend starts with Good Friday on 21st March and ends on Easter Monday, 24 March.

There are many food traditions celebrated at this time of year.

Hot cross buns are a favourite for many in the United Kingdom, and are thought to have originated from the ancient Greeks and Egyptians who ate small cakes or buns in honour of the respective goddesses that they worshipped. Buns

文化小课堂

复活节兔是复活节的象征之一。复活节时，会有使者装扮成兔子给孩子们发送礼物。它源于西欧文化，通常由野兔而不是家兔的形象出现。兔子作为多产的动物，象征着春天的复苏和新生命的诞生。兔子是爱神阿佛罗狄忒的宠物，也是日耳曼土地女神霍尔塔的持烛引路者。部分家庭参与这一庆祝活动并不是因为相信其存在，而是作为一种传统，或者是觉得有趣。

复活节兔子来了，商店里开始卖巧克力复活节蛋，水仙花开了，天气也变好了！

复活节是一年中的大时刻，可是它又源自何处呢？

最初的复活节叫做“Pascha”，是根据希伯来逾越节命名的，那是每年此时的一个犹太节日。后来，它被Easter（复活节）取代，而Easter又是从Eostre（厄俄斯特）一词演变而来——厄俄斯特是司掌繁殖和春季的盎格鲁—撒克逊女神的名字。

复活节的日期是依农历而定的。2008年，复活节开始于3月21日耶稣受难日（复活节前的星期五），结束于3月24日复活节星期一。

每年的这个时候，都有许多关于食物传统的庆祝。

在英国，最受欢迎的要数热十字面包[25]，人们认为，它们源自古希腊和埃及人为了纪念崇敬的女神而吃的小蛋糕和小圆面包。为了纪念一位女神，撒克逊人会吃上面印有十字的小圆面包。他们认为小圆面包代表

marked with a cross were eaten by the Saxons to honour a goddess. It is thought the bun represented the moon and the cross, its four quarters. To Christians, the cross symbolises the crucifixion[26].

In Scandinavia, Easter Pasha is eaten. This is a fluffy[27] creamy pudding, which is very light and sweet, and in Finland a strange mixture of molasses and rye flour is served at this time of year. It dates back to the sixteenth century and is called Mämmi.

Of course Easter wouldn’t be Easter without eggs! The tradition of colouring eggs in bright colours goes back to the Middle Ages. It is said that this represents the sunlight of spring. In Germany it is traditional to paint eggs green, while in Greek and Slavic cultures eggs are dyed red as a symbol of the blood of Christ.

For many, Easter symbolises new life, and images of new born chicks, and rabbits（or bunnies）are to be seen everywhere, on television, Easter cards, and on eggs.

Time goes by so fast, people go in and out of your life. You must never miss the opportunity to tell these people how much they mean to you.

月亮，而十字就是月亮的四个方向。对于基督教徒来说，十字象征着受难。

在斯堪的纳维亚，人们还会吃复活节帕沙。这是一种松软的奶油布丁，味甜轻柔。在芬兰，每年的这个时候，人们会吃一种蜜糖与黑麦粉的奇怪混合物。这要追溯至16世纪一种叫作“妈咪”的东西。

当然，复活节不可能是没有蛋的复活节！鲜艳彩蛋的传统要追溯至中世纪，据说这代表着春天的阳光。德国的传统是画绿色的蛋，而在希腊和斯拉夫的文化中，蛋被染成红色，象征着耶稣的血。

在许多国家，复活节象征着新生命，电视、复活节卡片和彩蛋上，到处都可见初生的小鸡和兔子。

时间飞逝，生命中人来人往。不要错失机会，告诉这些人他们在你生命中的意义。