WATCH: The truth about the Easter Bunny and where he came from
As Newcastillians brace themselves to celebrate Easter, children are excited about all chocolate delights the Easter Bunny is set to bring.
No Easter is complete without the Easter Bunny delivering Easter eggs. But how does the Easter Bunny fit in with the Easter celebrations and where does he come from?
According to some sources, the Easter bunny allegedly first arrived in America during the 1700s, when German immigrants settled in Pennsylvania and transported their tradition of an egg-laying hare called Osterhase or Oschter Haws. German children made nests in which this fluffy creature could lay its coloured eggs.
Before long, the tradition spread across the United States of America and then the globe, where the rabbit’s Easter morning deliveries expanded to include chocolate and other types of candy and gifts.
The reason he brought eggs is because eggs symbolise new life, which ties in with the Christian belief of a new life in Jesus Christ after he was crucified and rose from the dead to save mankind from sin.
In fact, hundreds of years ago, churches had their congregations abstain from eggs during Lent, allowing them to be consumed again on Easter. According to History.com, in the 19th century Russian high society started exchanging ornately decorated eggs on Easter.
While this version of the Easter Bunny ties in nicely with the Easter holidays, there is another theory that claims the bunny comes from a pagan tradition, namely that of Eostre, a goddess of fertility whose symbolic animal was a bunny.
Regardless of where the Easter Rabbit hails from, his presence brings joy to children as with him, comes the sweetness of Easter Eggs.
Watch the video below to find out more:
