| To Christians, Easter is a serious and religious holiday. | | | | multicolored eggs at that. |
| This is because it marks the resurrection of Christ. | | | | The egg-laying bunny did not come to America until |
| To other cultures, Easter, called other names, can | | | | the 18th century. German immigrants that were in |
| also be a huge religious holiday. Easter is celebrated | | | | the Pennsylvania Dutch region told their children about |
| as the end of winter and the beginning of spring, | | | | the Osterhase, which translated into English means |
| which brings about new life. For children, Easter is | | | | Easter Hare. In the Northwestern European folklore, |
| much like Christmas, they look forward to waking up | | | | the Easter bunny is not a rabbit at all, it is actually a |
| Easter morning and finding baskets of chocolates, | | | | hare. It was believed, many children still believe, that |
| eggs, other candies and sometimes a stuffed bunny | | | | the Easter bunny or hare would leave them baskets |
| that was left for them by the much loved Easter | | | | of candy if they had been good. This is much like |
| Bunny. | | | | Santa Claus bringing all the good little boys and girls |
| The rabbit, along with the bird and the egg, are | | | | of the world presents for Christmas. |
| fertility symbols that have been around for | | | | In Australia, rabbits are considered pests. There has |
| thousands of years. This is because the birds and the | | | | been a long running campaign to replace the Easter |
| rabbits usually reproduce in early spring and rabbits | | | | bunny with the Easter Bilby, which is a native |
| often continue to do so through out spring. It is fact | | | | marsupial. The campaign has had good success and |
| that rabbits and hares are prolific breeders, the | | | | you can find decorations of the bilby instead of the |
| female can conceive a litter of babies while still | | | | bunny in stores all over Australia. The bilby is an |
| pregnant with another litter. For this fact alone it is | | | | endangered species and there have been fundraisers |
| no wonder why the rabbit and hare are fertility | | | | to help save them. This consists of the sale of |
| symbols. | | | | chocolate biblies instead of bunnies. |
| The word Easter actually derives from the word | | | | Today's Easter bunny as with most Easter tradition |
| Eoster, which is the name of a Pagan goddess. It is | | | | derives from many traditions from many different |
| popular folklore that Eoster rescued a bird whose | | | | cultures around the world. In America, the Easter |
| wings had frozen during the harsh winter by turning it | | | | bunny is more commercialized than used as a symbol |
| into a rabbit. Since the rabbit had once been a bird, it | | | | of fertility. Much like Santa Claus you may find that |
| was still able to lay eggs instead of having live babies. | | | | the Easter bunny visits your local department store |
| This is where the modern day Easter Bunny comes | | | | or mall every year around Easter time to let the |
| from since it is still associated with laying eggs, | | | | children get their pictures taken with him. |