Royal Purple Cross Bowl

The cross, throughout human history, generally is a symbolic representation of the sun. (the different lines of the cross representing the rays.) Christianity created their own meaning for this symbol, because it was already a largely accepted religious symbol, and it made it easier for people to switch to the new faith if it allowed them to keep doing things that were familiar. Most of the western world before Christianity became popular was involved in so-called Pagan religions. These religions had feast days celebrating the different seasons, and so the Catholic Church conveniently placed their own new holy days on the same day, to make it easier for converts to join. Christians believed use of the Cross as the means of crucifixion, is and has always been symbolic of both Christ's suffering and death on our behalf and also His triumph over death with the promise of redemption and eternal life.