WHO IS THE EASTER BUNNY?
The Easter bunny is actually a reference to a Pagan festival that represented the beginning of Spring long before Christianity existed. The Hare was a sacred symbol of the goddess of Spring Eastre (which is where ‘Easter’ the name comes from). The hare was a symbol of fertility for the coming of spring. Parents use to tell their kids that the magic hare would bring them presents in the form of coloured eggs which represented the new life of spring. The hare was eventually replaced by the bunny rabbit because basically noone in America knew what a hare was. The basket also came later to hold the eggs that were delivered.
HISTORY • originated with the pagan festival of Eastre • Eastre was a goddess worshipped by the Anglo-Saxons • Eastre’s symbol was the rabbit • Germans brought this Easter rabbit symbol to America in the 1700’s • Christians ignored this until right about the Civil War EASTER EGGS Although the Easter Bunny tradition started in Germany, some people in Texas still follow the tradition of making nests and placing them in their yards. They also build fires on “Easter Eve” in order for the Easter Bunny to burn wild flowers to make dyes to color eggs. They believe that the Easter Bunny will fill the nests with these colored eggs. MODERN BUNNY Children now visit the modern-day Easter Bunny, because he tends to bring more than just easter eggs! Some Easter Bunnies bring candies or gifts, while some still follow the tradition by bringing eggs.
