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The Evolution of the Easter Bunny
The long-beloved Easter Bunny may not be mentioned anywhere in the Bible , but it is the most prominent secular symbol of the most important Christian holiday ever observed . That holiday , of course , is Easter , which celebrates the resurrection of Christ . One might ask how an animal as common as the rabbit became a symbol for such a miraculous event in religious history . Today ’ s discussion will explore this topic and attempt to answer that question . Really ? An Egg-laying Hare ? That ’ s right . The long-eared , short-tailed , mythical mammal that delivers treats ranging from colored eggs to chocolate candies each Easter originated in pagan festivals centuries ago as a hare that laid eggs . Widely perceived as male despite the contradiction in reproductive processes , he first appeared in Germany before Christianity had spread throughout Europe . German children made nests in which the hare could lay its colored eggs ; it was a tradition that continued once Germans began to immigrate to America in the 1700s . Today , that hare has evolved into the Easter Bunny — a cute , nosetwitching rabbit that brings these treats in colorful baskets and hides them for well-behaved children to seek and find . The Easter Bunny mascot is also seen all over at events such as Easter parades and Easter egg hunts for children . Kids from coast to coast line up in parks and shopping malls to have their pictures taken with the loveable , furry character . The Hare is known as Osterhase . It all started some time during the 17th century ; that ’ s when the hare , or Osterhase , was first mentioned in German writings . It is not entirely clear why or how this animal became symbolic of the Easter holiday , but its role seems to be rooted in the prolific nature of the rabbit ’ s reproductive cycle . Known to be remarkably adept at procreation , this animal has been recognized since ancient times as a symbol of fertility and new life . Some believe that since Easter occurs in spring , which is a season marked by rebirth and new life , the bunny was an obvious choice to symbolize Easter . During the spring season , plants bud with new life , and many animals mate . To celebrate this rebirth , pagan cultures held spring festivals . One prominent festival was held each spring to honor Eostre , the goddess of dawn , spring , and fertility . Two symbols closely linked to Eostre were the hare and the egg , because they were both symbols of fertility . Coincidentally , the Eostre festival was held around the same time of year as the Christian celebration of the resurrection . As Christianity spread throughout Europe , some pagan rituals made their way into religious observances , including Easter . That ’ s how the Easter Bunny came to be .