These Desserts Will Totally Make the Easter Bunny Jealous (2024)

FAQs

What is the story behind the Easter Bunny? ›

The idea of an egg-giving hare went to the U.S. in the 18th century. Protestant German immigrants in the Pennsylvania Dutch area told their children about the "Osterhase" (sometimes spelled "Oschter Haws"). Hase means "hare", not rabbit, and in Northwest European folklore the "Easter Bunny" indeed is a hare.

Legend has it that the Easter Bunny lays, decorates and hides eggs for good children, as they are also a symbol of new life. This is why some children might enjoy Easter egg hunts as part of the festival.

The exact origins of the Easter bunny are clouded in mystery. One theory is that the symbol of the rabbit stems from pagan tradition, specifically the festival of Eostre—a goddess of fertility whose animal symbol was a bunny. Rabbits, known for their energetic breeding, have traditionally symbolized fertility.

Origin of Easter Candy

Other reports say that early Germanic culture believed egg-laying rabbits introduced Spring. The bunny originally brought colorful eggs, but the tradition quickly expanded to include chocolate and other gifts.

Sometime in the 1600s, the Germans converted the pagan rabbit image into Oschter Haws, a rabbit that was believed to lay a nest of colored eggs as gifts for good children. Since males don't lay eggs, one would surmise the 'Easter Bunny' must then be female.

And what do they have to do with the resurrection of Jesus? Well, nothing. Bunnies, eggs, Easter gifts and fluffy, yellow chicks in gardening hats all stem from pagan roots. They were incorporated into the celebration of Easter separately from the Christian tradition of honoring the day Jesus Christ rose from the dead.

The Easter Bunny is a rabbit that delivers presents and eggs to children on Easter. The tradition goes back a very long way just like the ones about Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy. His real name is Peter Cottontail, just like how Santa's real name is either Saint Nicholas or Kris Kringle.

Jesus came to earth to save humanity by dying on the cross on Good Friday and resurrecting on Easter Sunday. By enduring and defeating death sacrificially for people, He swung open the gates of heaven making a way for sins to be forgiven and usher Christians into the presence of God (Romans 5:8)."

The egg itself became a symbol of the Resurrection. Just as Jesus rose from the tomb, the egg symbolized new life emerging from the eggshell. In the Orthodox tradition, eggs are painted red to symbolize the blood that Jesus shed on the cross. The egg-coloring tradition has continued even in modern secular nations.

The rabbit, though it chews the cud, does not have a split hoof; it is unclean for you. And the pig, though it has a split hoof completely divided, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you. You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.

What is the secret of the Easter Bunny? ›

The Easter Bunny's origins can be traced back to ancient pagan customs and fertility symbols. In pre-Christian times, various cultures in Europe revered the hare as a symbol of fertility and rebirth due to its prolific breeding habits.

There is no “right” time to tell kids about the Easter Bunny, as Stein notes, many will start to figure it out on their own within a certain age range. “From a psychological perspective, we all have different ranges of belief in the fantastic,” he says. “Even as adults, beliefs like superstitions continue to permeate.

Molded chocolate novelties were among the first candies to be specifically produced for the Easter holiday. The first chocolate molds were made by hand from tin coated metal sheets in the 1830s; the art reached its zenith in the 1880s and 1890s.

Given the symbolism of new life and rebirth, it was only natural to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus at this time of the year. The naming of the celebration as “Easter” seems to go back to the name of a pre-Christian goddess in England, Eostre, who was celebrated at beginning of spring.

According to Discovery News, since ancient times, eggs and rabbits have been a symbol of fertility, while spring has been a symbol of rebirth. So even though rabbits don't lay eggs, the association of these symbols was almost natural.

According to the writings of the Venerable Bede (673-735 AD), an Anglo-Saxon deity named Ēostre was accompanied by a rabbit because she represented the rejuvenation and fertility of springtime.

Easter is one of the principal holidays, or feasts, of Christianity. It marks the Resurrection of Jesus three days after his death by crucifixion. For many Christian churches, Easter is the joyful end to the Lenten season of fasting and penitence.

Coming-of-age tradition

You might tell your child: “Even though there's no actual Easter bunny, the magic of Easter is really about doing all the fun things together with our family and friends, and showing each other we love them by giving chocolate gifts.”