Easter marks the culmination of Christianity's Holy Week, when Jesus Christ was said to be crucified and subsequently resurrected. It's a time of year when many people reflect on new beginnings as the warmer weather of spring sees flora and fauna burst back into animation.
It's also a time of year steeped in traditions and legend, not always of a biblical nature. One such story is that of the Easter Bunny, a magical rabbit that appears annually bearing eggs.
Its origins are debated to this day by folklorists, the Mirror reports. As you'll read below, some theories suggest the Easter Bunny is centuries old.
Why does the Easter Bunny deliver eggs?
The endearing story of a magical egg-bearing rabbit is synonymous with Easter but does not have its roots in the Bible. Rather, a popular theory says the symbol derives from the pagan festival of Eostre.
Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring, is thought by many to be the namesake of Easter. Her companion is a hare, which has traditionally represented the season's connection with fertility and rebirth due to the animal’s high reproduction rates.
The idea that the Easter Bunny delivers eggs to children can be traced back to the 18th century. It's at this time that scholars believe the Germanic story of Osterhase – a hare that lays colourful eggs – travelled internationally by word-of-mouth.
Children prepared for the arrival of Osterhase, translating literally as "Easter Hare", by constructing nests in which it could lay its eggs. The rabbit was thought to judge whether children had been good or bad ahead of the festival, just like Father Christmas.
Over time, baskets replaced nests and the tradition of the morning Easter egg hunt was born. The modern practice of substituting painted or dyed chicken eggs with chocolate versions derives from the 19th century and the subsequent expansion of chocolate production.
As with the Easter Bunny, eggs are another common springtime symbol, a motif for new life. From a Christian perspective, they are said to represent Jesus' resurrection and emergence from his tomb.
Eating eggs was traditionally forbidden during Holy Week. Instead, they were saved, hard-boiled and decorated in the run-up to the festival.
So, that's why the Easter Bunny is said to deliver eggs to children. Whichever way, it's definitely magic...
