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The Easter Bunny evolved from a number of traditions, some dating back thousands of years. The earliest humans noticed the link between the cycles of women that were linked with the birth of children and the cycles of the moon. So the moon became a female and a symbol of fertility. In the oldest records from civilizations in Asia, the hare was the symbol of the moon.
The moon also mysteriously disappeared, grew full and then waned until it was gone again. The very earliest people depended on the light of the moon to be able to see the dangers of the night. When the moon disappeared, it was very important. The sun could be counted on to shine every day, but the moon died and was reborn.
Many ancient calendars were based on this regular rebirth of the moon. It makes sense that the moon became the symbol of rebirth or life after death. That's how the rabbit became the symbol of rebirth and renewal.
In ancient Egypt, the rabbit was also recognized as a symbol of fertility and renewal. This belief spread to the Greeks and then to the Romans who shared it with the rest of Europe. The Celts and other early European groups celebrated the festival of Eastre, a goddess of the dawn associated with springtime. Her symbol was the rabbit, the most fertile animal and a symbol of new life. Many people think that the modern feast of Easter developed from springtime feasts to honor Eastre. That's why the holiday is called Easter!
During the Middle Ages, the rabbit became associated with eggs since they were both symbols of fertility and rebirth in the spring. The Easter Bunny as a holiday symbol delivering candy and eggs is thought to have started around that time in Germany. German writings from the 1500s contain the first mention of the Easter Bunny. Strangely enough, the Easter Bunny is not a female. The Easter Bunny became a symbol of Christ rising from the dead. To fit into this role, the female fertility symbol switched gender and became a boy!
The first food Easter bunnies were made in Germany during the early 1800s and were baked pastry bunnies with sugar toppings. Together with gummy candies shaped like eggs, which is where jelly beans came from, they were placed in straw nest in secluded areas of the house or in the garden. The custom changed over time and eventually the Easter Bunny began to deposit eggs - in childrens shoes! When German people came to the United States, they brought their customs with them and soon everyone was waiting for the Easter Bunny to arrive with baskets of colored eggs, chocolate bunnies and jelly beans! Children's shoes were not big enough to hold all of the goodies and Easter Baskets became popular.
Australia didn't have any rabbits. When European settlers came to the land, some brought rabbits with them. Later more rabbits were imported for other reasons. The problem is that because they are not naturally found in Australia, there are no animals that hunt rabbits for food. Since rabbits are the symbol of fertility, they did their rabbit duty and produced a lot of new rabbits. Eventually, there were so rabbits many that they became a problem. Having this pesky rodent as a symbol for Easter celebrations just was not a good idea, so a new symbol was born. The bilby is an endangered animal in Australia. It looks almost like a rabbit... it was decided that the Easter Bunny would retire and the Easter Bilby took the job. In Australia, you'll find chocolate Easter Bilby candy and Easter Bilby cards!
The moon also mysteriously disappeared, grew full and then waned until it was gone again. The very earliest people depended on the light of the moon to be able to see the dangers of the night. When the moon disappeared, it was very important. The sun could be counted on to shine every day, but the moon died and was reborn.
Many ancient calendars were based on this regular rebirth of the moon. It makes sense that the moon became the symbol of rebirth or life after death. That's how the rabbit became the symbol of rebirth and renewal.
In ancient Egypt, the rabbit was also recognized as a symbol of fertility and renewal. This belief spread to the Greeks and then to the Romans who shared it with the rest of Europe. The Celts and other early European groups celebrated the festival of Eastre, a goddess of the dawn associated with springtime. Her symbol was the rabbit, the most fertile animal and a symbol of new life. Many people think that the modern feast of Easter developed from springtime feasts to honor Eastre. That's why the holiday is called Easter!
During the Middle Ages, the rabbit became associated with eggs since they were both symbols of fertility and rebirth in the spring. The Easter Bunny as a holiday symbol delivering candy and eggs is thought to have started around that time in Germany. German writings from the 1500s contain the first mention of the Easter Bunny. Strangely enough, the Easter Bunny is not a female. The Easter Bunny became a symbol of Christ rising from the dead. To fit into this role, the female fertility symbol switched gender and became a boy!
The first food Easter bunnies were made in Germany during the early 1800s and were baked pastry bunnies with sugar toppings. Together with gummy candies shaped like eggs, which is where jelly beans came from, they were placed in straw nest in secluded areas of the house or in the garden. The custom changed over time and eventually the Easter Bunny began to deposit eggs - in childrens shoes! When German people came to the United States, they brought their customs with them and soon everyone was waiting for the Easter Bunny to arrive with baskets of colored eggs, chocolate bunnies and jelly beans! Children's shoes were not big enough to hold all of the goodies and Easter Baskets became popular.
Australia didn't have any rabbits. When European settlers came to the land, some brought rabbits with them. Later more rabbits were imported for other reasons. The problem is that because they are not naturally found in Australia, there are no animals that hunt rabbits for food. Since rabbits are the symbol of fertility, they did their rabbit duty and produced a lot of new rabbits. Eventually, there were so rabbits many that they became a problem. Having this pesky rodent as a symbol for Easter celebrations just was not a good idea, so a new symbol was born. The bilby is an endangered animal in Australia. It looks almost like a rabbit... it was decided that the Easter Bunny would retire and the Easter Bilby took the job. In Australia, you'll find chocolate Easter Bilby candy and Easter Bilby cards!
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