Easter Bunny History
To some, Easter is a serious religious holiday. To others, it’s a celebration of the end of winter and of renewal and beginnings. To others, it’s both – but to children, it’s often about a chocolate Easter bunny gift, colored eggs, and other sweet surprises.
It’s fairly well known that Easter is a blend of many different traditions from many different cultures. The Easter Bunny is certainly one of most prominent icon of the holiday, and actually has some very interesting origins.
Both the egg and rabbits and hares have been fertility symbols from ancient times. As prolific breeders, it’s small wonder these animals became symbolic of fertility and rebirth associated with the earth after a long, hard winter.
Early German immigrants to the U.S., who brought many of their old country traditions with them (the Christmas tree was one of them). “Pennsylvania Dutch” parents would entertain their children with tales of the Osterhase, or “Easter hare.” Like Sinterklaas at Christmas, the Osterhase visits during the night and leaves Easter gifts – including colored eggs - for well-behaved children. To this day, some children leave carrots out for the Easter Hare, much as they leave out milk and cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve.
For such a fluffy and gentle creature, the Easter Bunny stirs up a fair amount of controversy, both in the U.S. and abroad. In the U.S., some groups in a well-meaning attempt to maintain a wall of separation between religion and secular life and be more inclusive to non-Christians, have renamed him the “Spring Bunny.” On the other hand, some Christians disavow Easter altogether in recognition of the pagan roots of the holiday. In Australia, the introduction of rabbits – a non-native species – nearly resulted in an ecological disaster when they bred into a plague. Australians have been trying to replace the Easter Bunny with an indigenous species, a marsupial known as a Bilby. If you’re in the Land Down Under on Easter (where it’s actually occurs during the fall), children’s Easter baskets are just as likely to contain a chocolate bilby as it does a chocolate bunny.
Another story attributes the Easter Bunny to an “ancient” pagan legend. According to this “legend,” the goddess Eostre – for whom “Easter” is supposedly named – found a wounded bird in a snowy forest one winter. In order to help it survive the cold, she turned it into a rabbit – but the transformation was incomplete, because the rabbit continued to lay eggs. In gratitude, the rabbit decorated her eggs and presented them to Eostre every spring. Oddly, there are no references to this legend predating 1990, so it’s doubtful that this tale constitutes any sort of ancient tradition.
Nonetheless, Easter, gifts and Easter baskets continues to be a fun celebration of spring for children of all ages.� �
Related Tags: easter gifts, childrens easter baskets, easter baskets, kids easter gifts
Anne Harvester is a homemaker extraordinaire with years of experience creating spectacular events and gifts. See her favorite Gift baskets, Easter gift baskets, Childrens Easter gifts.
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Important Things to Know About an Assisted Living Residence in Texas
n assisted living residence is a facility designed for senior citizens or persons with disabilities - Understanding How the Probate Process Works
The probate process is required within the U.S. to settle estates of deceased persons. The time requ - Fun Ideas for the Family During the Christmas Holiday
The Yuletide season is one of the most awaited holidays of the year because it is the time for joy a - How To Find The Right Composite Decking Deck Builders
Another rising home improvement project homeowners are starting to do a lot more of is the composite - Every Home Should Have A Radiant Barrier
The most easy and successful home improvement project you can do to your House, would be to install - The Different Types Of Rain Gutters
When purchasing a house or planning to do improvements to a home, there is always one project that s - How To Get The Best Replacement Windows For Your Home
Installing replacement windows can be the single most important home improvement project you can do - Holiday Accommodation Gold Coast: Pointers For Selecting The Best
With a multitude of holiday accommodations in Gold Coast, choosing the one for yourself can be quite - Want Holiday Accommodation In Gold Coast Queensland? Get Online To Find The Best Deal In A Quick, Co
There are several ways to find holiday accommodation in Gold Coast. You may refer to travel guides t - Celebrate The Ten-days Festival Of Navratri.
Dasara known as Dussehra, Navaratri, Vijaya Dashami is a festival of triumph of GOOD over Evil. The
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Adoptees Need Support When Voicing Feelings about Birth Parents
"I feel like a mistake.""I'm not like them.""Where's my family?""Why can't I find a suitable career? - Progressive Cooking: All About 'cuisine'
The French are known for their interest in art and all that is fine. It therefore comes as no surpri - Moroccan Decor - Oh My! Make Your Home Shine With Moroccan Rugs and Tapestries.
It is said in Morocco that he who enters Fez with a rug will leave with a moneybag. This saying o - Online Criminal Background Checks-Importance & Ease
Have you ever thought your new neighbor looks like one of the pictures on the post office bulletin b - Installing A Burglar Alarm
Want to protect your home? Ready to install a burglar alarm? The popularity of the home burglar ala - Lowe's Backyard Playground Sets
Lowe's is an excellent first place to look for anyone who is looking for the best swing sets on the - How Could Short Term Health Insurance Help Me?
Short-term health insurance plans allow people to have health insurance for a limited amount of time - Watch Out For Those Stinky Skunks!
There are various species of skunks found throughout the United States including the striped, spotte - Asthma In Kids: An Increasing Epidemic
Many believe that the majority of asthma cases are confined to adults, but this is definitely an inc - Stairlifts For Riders Of Above Average Weight
A stairlift is an affordable device that is used to give people with limited mobility access to the