Butterflies have long been associated with the Christian celebration of Easter. The caterpillar shrouding itself in silk, then “dying” for a short period of time to reemerge as something more beautiful is an easy analog to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus in three days' time.
The timing works too. Easter Sunday is celebrated every year between March 22 and April 25. Based on the Jewish lunar calendar, it lands on the first Sunday after the first ecclesiastical full moon that occurs on or after the March 21 vernal equinox. Most butterflies emerge from their chrysalises in the springtime, although we are blessed to see them year round on the Gulf Coast of Florida.
Ancient Art
In addition to the obvious parallels, the symbol of the butterfly has been woven through many Christian narratives over the years. Outside of Christianity, the butterfly was often seen as a symbol of the soul. Its brilliant colors and flickering flight were linked to the sun and an ascent into the spiritual realm. As faith in Jesus spread from Jerusalem and Israel across the world to Asia, Europe, and beyond, the soul significance stayed with the butterfly.
In Christian artwork, often commissioned for churches and cathedrals, butterflies would appear in the background or sometimes alighting on the hand of the Christ child or his holy mother. Catholics saw the butterfly as not just a symbol of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, but also their own new life - growing from a simple caterpillar, being baptized, and transforming into a follower of Jesus, bound for heaven.
To this day, butterflies are often used on gravestones as symbols of a Christian soul bound for heaven.
Everything, Everywhere
The butterfly is also associated with the idea that the smallest person or action can have incredible meaning. Another term for sensitivity to initial conditions or chaos theory is the “butterfly effect” (also referenced in the movie of the same name). The idea is that a butterfly flaps its wings on one corner of the world and that causes a hurricane on the other end of the world.
Raconteur and author Andy Andrews explains, “Every single thing you do matters. You have been created as one of a kind. You have been created in order to make a difference. You have within you the power to change the world.”
Build-a-Butterfly
While we don’t really have Easter trees to hang decorations on, helping your kids create their own butterflies can be a fun craft and an easy way to get into the story. There are as many ways to make a craft butterfly as there are butterflies themselves, but here are a few to get you started.
Making coffee filter butterflies starts by taking two coffee filters and flattening them out. Use washable markers to color and decorate the filters, one atop the other. Then dribble water from an eye dropper around the design until it’s fully wet. Let them dry, then separate the filters and fold them accordion style. Place the accordions on top of one another and wrap a pipe cleaner evenly around the center. Curl the top of the pipe cleaner to make antennae and pull apart the folds to form your butterfly.
You can also start with a hinged clothespin as the body of your butterfly. Draw a face on the top of the clothespin or glue on some googly eyes. Use cupcake liners, coffee filters or tissue paper to make wings. You’ll want to attach the wings as close to the hinge as you can. Then you can glue on some jewels, craft pompom balls, or ribbon. You can even glue a magnet on the back so they can live on your fridge.
Click here for a few other butterfly crafts you can try.
Death is Not the End
We are in what many Christian traditions designate as Holy Week. Today is Maundy Thursday, or the day of Jesus’ Last Supper. Today, as in Jesus’ time, it coincides with Passover. Tomorrow is Good Friday, the day Jesus was hung on a cross and died for our sins. And Sunday is Easter, or Resurrection Sunday, when millions of people around the world celebrate Jesus’ rising from the dead to complete the work of the Gospel.
Jesus’ resurrection, like the butterflies’ metamorphosis, reminds us there is life after death. The good news is whatever you’ve done wrong in your life, and we’ve all done some wrong, can be forgiven by Jesus if you only ask. He died to take away the curse of sin - all the bad things we’ve done that earned us death.
Instead, if we accept him as our Lord and Savior, all our wrong is wiped away and we get to live in eternity after we die on earth. All you have to do is believe and ask. If you do make that decision, please reach out and let us know so we can pray for you.
As always, we are closed on Good Friday so our employees can be with their families. We will be back on Monday. Until then, feel free to contact us here.
Have a blessed Easter!