Just as Santa Clause represents Christmas, a hopping life-size bunny with a basket full of colorful eggs is the quintessential image of Easter.

But how did the Easter bunny and egg hunts become synonymous with Easter anyway? And how are these various images connected to the Christian version of the holiday? Aside from the historical findings that the hare, eggs and the Prophet Yahshua’s resurrection from the dead are all symbols of ‘fertility and life’, I cram to see any other relation.

In fact, my earliest memories surrounding Easter period, remind me of a haute couture fashion show on the runways of the House of God. The biggest question was not whether or not today would be the day you asked for forgiveness for the time you cheated on your math test, but whether or not today would be the day you wore your new royal crepe back satin dress with the coordinating clasp styled hand bag. Between the spirited cat walks up the isles from the young ladies in their embroidered brocades, silky chiffons and elegant furs, to the young men in their raw linens, suiting fabrics and stylish suedes. The after service gossip overshadowed the sermon this Easter Sunday. Even more important was whether or not Sister Victoria’s Easter bonnet would outdo Sister Evelyn’s for the second year in a row. It never ceased to amaze me how she was able to keep that two-foot wide lilac gingham check printed hat with floral trim positioned so neatly while catching the Holy Spirit at the same time. I wouldn’t be surprised if TV celebrity Tyra Banks began her modeling career and got the inspiration for her current hit show ‘America’s Next Top Model’, while sitting in the pews of this very church as a child.