Surprisingly, there's a lot of history behind the mythical story of an egg-bearing rabbit on Easter Sunday and it's not just because he's cute! The Easter Bunny actually has a long and deeply rooted history in the Christian holiday — and even in pagan traditions. Here's what to know about the fascinating origins of the Easter Bunny before you welcome the holiday with chocolate rabbits and plenty of bunny-shaped treats — including where the character comes from, why he's associated with Easter eggs , and how he became such a beloved symbol of the holiday over the years.
The Bible has no mention of a mythical hare who delivers eggs to children on the day of Jesus Christ's resurrection — so how exactly did the Easter Bunny become a prominent symbol of one of Christianity's most important holidays? One theory, according to Time , is that the symbol of the rabbit stems from the ancient pagan tradition believed to have started the celebration of Easter — the festival of Eostre , which honored the goddess of fertility and spring.
Supposedly, the goddess's animal symbol was a rabbit , which have long traditionally symbolized fertility due to their high reproduction rates. As for how the specific character of the Easter Bunny originated in America, History.
Eventually, the custom spread across America to become a widespread Easter tradition — and over time, the fabled bunny's delivery even expanded from just eggs to include other treats such as chocolate and toys. According to History. However, this association came much later when Roman Catholicism became the dominant religion in Germany in the 15th century and merged with already ingrained pagan beliefs.
The first Easter bunny legends were documented in the s. By , the first story about a rabbit laying eggs and hiding them in a garden was published. These legends were brought to the United States in the s when German immigrants settled in Pennsylvania Dutch country, according to the University of Florida's Center for Children. The tradition of making nests for the rabbit to lay its eggs soon followed.
Missionaries were said to blend pagan traditions with Christian holidays to make the transition smoother, so it is possible that the celebrations of Eostre and the resurrection of Christ became one. The earliest evidence of a more modern Easter Bunny dates back to the s, when it's first mentioned in German writings, reports Mental Floss. This rabbit, called "Oschter Haws" or Easter hare, was believed to lay a nest of colorful eggs for children who were good. While there is no actual bunny that once was the iconic hare, the legendary egg-laying rabbit is said to have been brought to America by German immigrants in the s, according to History.
As mentioned, children would make nests for Oschter Haws to leave behind eggs. The tradition spread throughout the U. Chocolate bunny figurines also originated in Germany, where they began making pastries for the fabled rabbit in the s. As previously mentioned, the rabbit and the egg became intertwined with the spring holiday because of their pagan roots representing fertility and rebirth.
It seems possible that these two images merged into the egg-laying rabbit of German lore, instead of a practical chicken. If you don't get the confirmation within 10 minutes, please check your spam folder.
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