<< Jesus and the Easter bunny? >>
Read on if you're interested ( Copied from 800flowers.com web site) -
The Easter bunny has its origin in pre-Christian fertility lore. The Hare and
the Rabbit were known to be the most fertile animals and they were adopted as
symbols of the new life during the spring season. This symbol remained from
the time when Easter was a spring festival rather than a religious holiday.
The symbol of the Easter bunny began in Germany, where it was first mentioned
in German writings from the 1500s. The first edible Easter bunnies were also
made in Germany during the 1800s from pastry and sugar. German settlers
introduced the Easter bunny to the American culture when they arrived in the
Pennsylvania Dutch country during the 1700's.
To children, the arrival of the "Oschter Haws" as the Easter bunny was known
was considered the next best thing to Santa Claus. The children believed that
if they were good the Easter Bunny would lay a nest of colored eggs for them
to find in the morning. They would build a nest for the Easter Bunny the
night before in a private place in their home, the barn or the garden. Boys
would use their caps and the girls would use their bonnets to make the nests.
The idea of the Easter basket came later as this new Easter tradition spread
throughout the country. It is not known exactly when that tradition developed
into the Easter Bunny leaving treats to fill a child's Easter basket for them
to find in the morning.
Happy Easter!
Pete G.
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