Easter Bunny To Be Bouncing Around Iron County

I'm not born and raised here in Southern Utah, but I have been around for a pretty long time and have seen a lot of new things come to our area. That said, I sometimes have to remember there are events that have been going on since before I moved here over 30 years ago.

One of those events is coming up this weekend, and another celebration that was postponed from earlier this week is set to happen Thursday evening.

First, the Thursday event. The 18^th Annual Enoch Easter Egg Hunt had been scheduled for Monday evening. Well, we all know what happened that night, and prudence probably made the good call to postpone the activity. So, it will happen now on Thursday, April 6^th at the Old Enoch Park. Children up to 12 years old are welcome to come enjoy an Easter egg hunt starting at 6pm. There will be a visit from the Easter Bunny, and some great prizes while supplies last. The event is sponsored by the Enoch Police Department.

Then on Saturday, April 8^th, arguably the Iron County granddaddy Easter Celebration for kids. It will be the Sigma Nu Alumni 36^th Annual Easter Egg Hunt at the Main Street Park in Cedar City. The event will start at 9am. There's no admission charge and the activity is open to everyone. The busy Easter Bunny will be there to kick of the event. According to visitcedarcity.com there will be some 25,000 eggs to be found (have they seen the price of eggs?). I have to assume some, if not most of those will be candy eggs. There will also be 120 prize baskets and 8 bicycles among some of the prizes to be given away to the children of Iron County. After the event the Easter Bunny will be available for picture taking.

Easter egg hunts have become a popular tradition associated with the celebration of Easter, but the history of this tradition dates back centuries. The origins of the Easter egg hunt can be traced back to pre-Christian times, when eggs symbolized new life and rebirth. Ancient cultures, such as the Persians, Egyptians, and Greeks, exchanged decorated eggs as part of their springtime celebrations.

As Christianity spread throughout the world, the egg became a symbol of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The egg was used to represent the tomb from which Jesus emerged after his crucifixion, and it also symbolized the new life that comes with rebirth. In medieval Europe, the Church prohibited the consumption of eggs during Lent, so they were often boiled and decorated as a way to preserve them until Easter.

The tradition of Easter egg hunts as we know it today is believed to have originated in Germany in the 16th century. According to legend, Martin Luther, the German religious reformer, was walking through the woods one day and saw a group of children gathering eggs in a field. Inspired by their excitement, he decided to create an Easter egg hunt for his own children, hiding eggs throughout his garden and encouraging them to search for them.

The tradition of the Easter egg hunt quickly spread throughout Europe and eventually made its way to the United States. The first recorded Easter egg roll in the US took place in 1878 on the White House lawn during the administration of President Rutherford B. Hayes. Children rolled eggs down the lawn using spoons, and the tradition has continued every year since.

Today, Easter egg hunts are a popular tradition all over the world, with children and adults alike enjoying the thrill of the search for hidden eggs. From small backyard hunts to large community events, like the events happening here in Iron County, the Easter egg hunt is a beloved part of the Easter celebration, bringing joy and excitement to families and communities around the world. Have fun at these events!