Our favorite Easter critters

When we think about Easter, several symbolic images come to mind, beyond your basic Easter eggs, simply because of tradition. The egg represented the Pagan spring rebirth celebration and was adopted by early Christians as a symbol of the rebirth. But how did the little critters’ association with Easter originate? The rabbit, for example, has always been known as a particularly fertile creature, and as such it symbolized the coming of spring. The lamb tradition supposedly dates back to Passover, when the sacrificial lamb was roasted and eaten. Little ducks and chicks are also commonly associated with Easter since many baby animals are born, or hatched, during Spring time. When visualizing these cute little animals, do you ever wonder “how would I like them served?”

OK, I know some of you need a moment to collect yourselves just about now. Claire is probably out feeding her ducks as I write this; Vicki will feed anything that swims, flies, crawls or hoofs on over to her sanctuary; both Anita and Claire will talk fondly about all the furry little rabbits they raised when their children were younger. I can just imagine my friends recoiling in horror at the simple mention of eating these adorable creatures! Well, I’m not a carnivore and I’m certainly not alone among our mammal-free friends. At one point in my childhood I refused to eat chicken because, as the saying goes, you shouldn’t name something if you are going to eat it. Not that I had a choice; I was powerless to stop the grownups from serving up my little feathery pets.

Traditionally in many South American countries, like Peru, Guinea pigs are happily running loose in the kitchen one day, and served on a platter the next, after being amply fattened up with grains. I wonder if those children are equally distressed at the sight of their pudgy little “cuy” disguised as a meal, as I was at discovering my pet chicken swimming in my soup. 

When I asked Robert to read my first “Easter post” paragraph, above, just to see what he thought, I was taken aback to hear him say he was surprised “I went there.” So does that mean that as a non-meat eater I shouldn’t be contemplating fleshly menus? Regardless, perhaps I will leave the carnivorous aspects of Easter dinner to those who enjoy it and have myself some non traditional good ole’ fish: I can always sink my teeth into that!

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