The Origin of the Easter Bunny & Colored Easter Eggs

Just as Santa Claus represents Christmas, a hopping life-size bunny with a basket full of colorful eggs is the quintessential image of Easter.

The original Easter bunny was probably associated with the Pagan equinox festival that predated Easter. The Saxons devoted the month of April to celebrating their goddess of spring and fertility, who was, not coincidentally, named Eastre. Eastre's sacred animal was the hare - not surprising since the rabbit is one of the most common symbols of fertility and rebirth.

The colored eggs carried by today's Easter bunnies have another, even more ancient origin. Eggs have long been associated with fertility and springtime festivals - for so long, in fact, that the precise roots of the association are unknown. Ancient Romans and Greeks utilized eggs in festivals celebrating resurrected gods. The egg also featured prominently in the Jewish rituals of Passover - and still today the roasted egg has prominence on the seder table as an essential symbol of springtime and rebirth.

Scholars believe that the pairing of the hare and the egg together in Easter may also have Pagan roots. During springtime, when days and nights were equal length, the hare was identified with the moon goddess and the egg with the sun god. Pairing the two together offered a kind of ying and yang to spring equinox celebrations.

The next historical entry under Bunny & Egg is found fifteen hundred years later in Germany. There, children would eagerly await the arrival of the Oschter Haws, a rabbit who delighted children on Easter morning by laying colored eggs in nests. This was also the first known time that the rabbit and egg were iconoclastically linked together.

The German tradition of the Oschter Haws migrated to America in the 1800s, likely accompanying German immigrants, many of whom settled in Pennsylvania. Over the past 200 years, the Oschter Haws or Easter Bunny has become the most commercially recognized symbol of Easter.

Today American children squeal with delight when they see the bunny-whether he's headlining their neighborhood Easter egg hunt or greeting visitors at the local mall. The Easter bunny and his ubiquitous basket of eggs has surely become the most adored and recognized symbol of the Easter season.

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Tanya

12:46 03/27/2008

 

My daughter is worried that we missed the easter bunny this year. I do not know how to explain it to her. My husbands family tradition is that the easter bunny pays their kids a visit easter morning and brings them their baskets. Well my kids see baskets at the stores and I have always bought their baskets with them, they enjoy picking their baskets. So when her uncle asked her if the easter basket visited her that morning she has been so sad since because she feels like the easter bunny forgot her and her sisters this year. So what do I do? I told her next year we will go to see the easter bunny, which I should of done this year. But how do I explain myself for this year?

NeLLy

13:38 03/24/2008

 

heLLo! i'm a girl spanish. i love this website! send me e-mails by this web please! --> KiSseS!

Christian

16:51 03/23/2008

 

Haley is right, to an extent..."Easter" is a pagan holiday. As a Christian, I disassociate the holiday with the RESURRECTION of my Lord. Why do my fellow Christians allow their churches and family gatherings on this holy occasion to be polluted with demonic pagan symbols such as the Easter Bunny and it's colored eggs? One has nothing to do with the other.

Rick

15:51 03/23/2008

 

Most Christianity events are scheduled in proximity or on the actual dates of Pagan Holidays. This was to assist in converting Pagans to Christianity as well as adopting the Pagan customs and traditions. I am Pagan myself but appreciate all beliefs as the true message of Peace, Love, and Caring for one another exists in both Pagan and Christianity. May all be blessed on this wonderful Spring Equinox.

eli

14:04 03/23/2008

 

the story behind the easter bunny and colored eggs was very interesting.i enjoyed very much reading the different topics on your web page....have a happy easter to all who read these topics

michelle

08:22 03/23/2008

 

though the kids might enjoy why they ate coloring eggs etc there are some related article that are interesting I forgto their email kim

julia baker

05:23 03/23/2008

 

great site. informative ad fun Happy Easter

Syl

23:24 03/22/2008

 

Syl, do me a favor and read this to Grandma. She wanted to know how the Easter Bunny became part of Easter. Thanks, Sam

Cheryl

20:14 03/22/2008

 

Happy Easter everyone

maggie(age 9)

19:57 03/22/2008

 

yaaa!!!Easter tomorow!I got a new Easter basket for the Easter Bunny i call him fluffy