Where does the Easter Bunny tradition come from?
The Easter Bunny actually stems from pre-Christian fertility lore. A pagan goddess, Eastre, was worshipped by Anglo-Saxons through her symbol, which was a rabbit. Rabbits and hares are known as very fertile animals and because of this, they became symbols of new life during spring. The bunny’s role in Easter began in Germany sometime in the 1500s. When German settlers came to the US colonies in the 1700s, they brought with them their Easter bunny tradition. Called “Oschter Haws,” the Easter Bunny’s visit was as exciting as when Santa came to town. German children believed that if they were good, the Easter Bunny would lay a nest of colored eggs. Before bed on Easter eve, boys would set out their caps and girls would lay out their bonnets for the bunny to nest in. Baskets were introduced later. Easter was actually not widely celebrated in the United States until after the Civil War. And eggs figure into all of this Easter stuff how? Simple: eggs are pretty obvious fertility symbols! No
