An easter bunny is one of the typical symbols we see at Easter. Here is its quick history for you to begin with.

Exploring the ancient pagan and Judeo-Christian origins of the Easter holiday

Easter is a Christian holiday commemorating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. He, according to the New Testament, rose from the grave three days after his crucifixion. This event is special because it is said to be the day that he promised eternal life. 

However, Easter also has a non-religious history as one of the earliest pagan festivals. It is celebrated in Europe by the ancient Saxons. Long before the introduction of Christianity, ancient pagans celebrated the arrival of springtime with festivals recognizing a Goddess of Fertility named Eostre. 

As Spring weather arrived, pagans celebrated the Vernal Equinox. It was believed that the goddess Eostre replenished the land with renewal, birth and rebirth and fertility. In fact, according to the early Germanic calendar of the Anglo Saxon pagans, the month of April was referred to as Eostre-monath, or Easter month.

Its History

The history of the Easter bunny actually dates back to the early pagan festivals celebrated in Europe. In fact, Easter bunnies, Easter eggs, and Spring decorations, of which have become standard tokens of the holy Easter holiday. They are some of the most ancient symbols of fertility associated with the Goddess Eostre. 

Prehistoric peoples were aware that birds began laying eggs in the spring. On the other hand, rabbits and hares gave birth to spring litter. Eggs, as well as pies or stews made from rabbit meat, were traditional dishes during pagan Eostre festivals. The history of the Easter bunny arose from these early festivals.  

According to one pagan folklore story, the Goddess Eostre cast a hare into the Heavens. This created the constellation we know today as Lepus the Hare, located just below the constellation of the hunter Orion. In the ancient world, the rabbit’s foot was also believed to have special powers of fertility, even aiding in the reproductive prowess of humans. These ancient peoples first carried lucky rabbit foot charms as talismans associated with the Easter holiday.

Present Day

Today, those curious about the history of the Easter bunny may be surprised to learn of the ancient, pagan roots associated with this contemporary holiday mascot, commercialized today as a friendly, fuzzy, cartoon-like creature that delivers Easter baskets to children or hides colorful Easter eggs.

The first reference to an Easter bunny appears in Germanic writings from the 1600s. The history of the Easter bunny in association with chocolate or candy began in Germany in the early 1800s. This was when confections shaped like rabbits were made of pastry, sugar, and chocolate.  

It is believed that the Easter bunny was first introduced to America by German immigrants who settled in the Pennsylvania Dutch area during the 1700s. The children of these early German settlers traditionally built colorful nests out of caps and bonnets for the “O_ster Haws_e” (a phonetic pronunciation of the early Saxon term for Eostre Hares) to fill with colored eggs and edible treats. This fanciful springtime tradition was similar in nature to the arrival of Kris Kringle at Christmas time. 

The history of the Easter bunny has ancient correlations to both Judeo-Christian holidays and pagan celebrations. Although the image of the Easter bunny has certainly changed and evolved over time, the symbolism remains. This marks Easter as a time for renewal, birth, resurrection, and fertility.