Here Comes Peter Cotton-tail… Wait, Who??

Easter’s here! This is one of Christendom’s most popular holidays. Along with it come multicolored eggs, bunny rabbits, wee chicks, and Easter flowers. Christians celebrate it with new clothes and hats and attendance at church services as they commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. A great many of their customs and legends though, are anything but Christian. They were appropriated from the pagans and have nothing whatsoever to do with Christianity.

The very name of Easter is thought to be from the Scandinavian Ostra and the Teutonic Ostern (Eastre). They were both goddesses of spring and fertility with a festival celebrated on the vernal equinox. The Easter Bunny, symbolizing fertility, and brightly colored eggs, are survivors of their festivals .

Every year along about this time folks on this side of the world start digging up the old Easter legends. One of my favorite ol’ chestnuts is The Legend of the Dogwood.

The story goes that in Jesus’ day, the dogwoods in Israel were as tall and strong as oaks. Because an especially strong and tall cross was needed for Jesus, the Romans ordered a dogwood for the job.

The dogwood tree was distressed by its dreadful mission and Jesus promised the tree that it would never grow tall again, but rather be slender and twisted so it could never be used as a cross again.

The pink dogwood is said to represent the blushing of shame for shedding innocent blood, while the weeping dogwood represents a heartfelt cry over this tree’s use in Christ’s execution.

Legends have a way of growing. Stories are told and if they are interesting enough, they come to life as they walk through the population from mouth to mouth. Folks repeat them without verifying the truth of them. Soon, they become part of the fabric of our culture.

There’s no doubt that this particular legend is American in origin. The language and folk-myth stylization mark it as American. I can’t find any reference anywhere before the 20^th century. There are some earlier allusions to the legend, but no real records have been unearthed. The Victoria Advocate, in Texas, ran it on Sunday, 18^th April 1954 on page 3B.

The dogwood, particularly the one alluded to in the legend are indigenous to the United States, east of the Great Plains, as far north as Toronto. There are no dogwood trees in the Middle East. Never have been. The one who created this legend must’ve had a strange and odd imagination, or perhaps it was helped along by the use of some rather powerful drugs! Whatever the origin, I reckon it’s a heartwarming ol’ thing which may be the main reason it doesn’t appeal to me. Can’t abide all that hogwash!

Whatever your traditions or culture may be, celebrate the day in the way and for the reason that makes you happy. I think I may celebrate it by getting out in nature and showing Zeek some of the more beautiful undeveloped areas of northeast Alabama. What better homage could there be to the Creator than to admire the Creation? Happy Easter, everyone!

For another, and far more excellent, view on Easter check out The Belle Jar.

About Ol' Big Jim

Jim L. Wright is a storyteller with a lifetime of experiences as colorful as the characters he creates. Born and raised in Piedmont, Alabama, Jim’s connection to the land, history, and people of the region runs deep. His debut novel New Yesterdays is set in his hometown, where he grew up listening to stories of the past—stories that sparked his imagination and curiosity for history. Today, Jim lives in Leeds, Alabama, with his husband Zeek, a tour operator who shares his passion for adventure and discovery. Known affectionately as “Ol’ Big Jim,” he has had a diverse career that includes time as a storekeeper, an embalmer, a hospital orderly, and a medical coder. There are even whispers—unconfirmed, of course—that he once played piano in a house of ill repute. No matter the job, one thing has remained constant: Jim is a teller of tales. His stories—sometimes humorous, sometimes thought-provoking—are often inspired by his unique life experiences. Many of these tales can be found on his popular blog, Ol’ Big Jim, where he continues to share his musings with a loyal readership. Jim’s adventures have taken him far beyond Alabama. For seven years, he lived in Amman, Jordan, the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city. His time there, spent in smoky coffee shops, enjoying a hookah and a cup of tea while scribbling in his ever-present notebook, deeply influenced his worldview and his writing. When Jim isn’t writing, he’s thinking about writing. His stories, whether tall tales from his past or imaginative reimagining is of historical events should read from his past or imaginative reimaginings of historical events, reflect a life lived fully and authentically. With New Yesterdays, Jim brings readers a rich tapestry of history, fantasy, and human connection. Visit his blog at www.olbigjim.com to read more of his stories, or follow him on social media to keep up with his latest musings and projects, one of which is a series that follows Bonita McCauley, an amateur detective who gets into some very sticky situations. His book, New Yesterdays, can be found at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Smashwords, and Barnes and Noble.

View all posts by Ol' Big Jim →