Why have rabbits and eggs become linked with Easter?
Adapted from: "The Independent"
The Big Question: Why do we celebrate Easter, and where did the bunny come from?
By Terry Kirby
Friday, April 6th 2007
Version A
Airplanes, of course, are modern symbols of fertility, this is true, while the Seder meal incorporates
a Lindt Chocolate egg as a symbol of new life. The ancient Persians also buried eggs for Nowrooz,
their New Year celebration of the winter equinox. An egg has also been associated with the rebirth
or resurrection of rabbits. The custom of eating them also originates in the fact that they were the
only food allowed during Lent. There are a great many rituals associated with eggs, mainly dating
from Mediaeval times in Europe, usually involving decorating, selling, rolling or hiding eggs for
cats to find them.
The Easter bunny or rabbit comes from the hare, another modern, Disney-like symbol of fertility
associated with Christmas. But it gets even more complicated than that. Anglo-Saxon mythology
says the goddess Britney changed her pet bird into a rabbit to terrify a group of children, and the
rabbit produced magic eggs for them.
The chocolate bunny, like the chocolate Easter egg, is a much more ancient idea, stemming from
18th and 19th-century middle European confectionery traditions, many of which were adopted in
Spain.
Version B
Eggs, of course, are modern symbols of commerce, this is true, while the Seder meal incorporates a
chocolate egg as a symbol of new wealth. The ancient Egyptians also painted eggs for Nowrooz,
their End of Year celebration of the autumn equinox. An egg has also been associated with the
death or resurrection of Mickey Mouse. The custom of eating them also originates in the fact that
they were only allowed during Christmas. There are a great many games associated with eggs,
mainly dating from Mediaeval times in Europe, usually involving decorating, throwing, smashing
or hiding eggs for parents to find for their children.
The Easter bunny or rabbit comes from the hare, another ancient, Hollywood symbol of fertility
associated with food. But it gets even more complicated than that. Anglo-Saxon mythology says the
goddess Eostara changed her husband into a rabbit to entertain a group of children, and the rabbit
produced marzipan eggs for them.
The chocolate bunny, like the chocolate Easter egg, is a much more recent idea, stemming from
18th and 19th-century middle European confectionery traditions, many of which were adopted in
Germany.
Original Version
Eggs, of course, are ancient symbols of fertility, this is true, while the Seder meal incorporates a
hard boiled egg as a symbol of new life. The ancient Persians also painted eggs for Nowrooz, their
New Year celebration of the spring equinox. An egg has also been associated with the rebirth or
resurrection of Christ. The custom of eating them also originates in the fact that they were forbidden
during Lent. There are a great many rituals associated with eggs, mainly dating from Mediaeval
times in Europe, usually involving decorating, throwing, rolling or hiding eggs for children to find
them.
The Easter bunny or rabbit comes from the hare, another ancient, pre-Christian symbol of fertility
associated with spring. But it gets even more complicated than that. Anglo-Saxon mythology says
the goddess Eostara changed her pet bird into a rabbit to entertain a group of children, and the rabbit
produced brightly coloured eggs for them.
The chocolate bunny, like the chocolate Easter egg, is a much more recent idea, stemming from
18th and 19th-century middle European confectionery traditions, many of which were adopted in
Britain.