The Easter Bunny is the magical Rabbit that comes at Easter and brings children of the world delicious Chocolate easter eggs and candy. It always includes an egg hunt and some type of fun activities for the kids. LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Rabbits are common and found on every continent except Antarctica. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. Bunnies aren’t the animal traditionally associated with Easter in every country. All Rights Reserved. The origin of the Easter bunny is said to have come from Germany before the 1700’s. According to folklore, the Easter Bunny hides Easter eggs for children to find on Easter morning. The exact origins of the Easter bunny are clouded in mystery. Subscribe for just $18. The first intimation of a connection arose from Jacob Grimm, and although he was a folklorist, he had no hard evidence other than his own speculation. * The request timed out and you did not successfully sign up. However, there is no direct evidence of a pagan correlation. Easter symbols and their meaning - Easter is associated with a number of symbols like the bunny and the colorful eggs. While the exact meaning of the Easter Bunny is unclear, rabbits correspond with the theme of fertility (AKA new life). You Won’t Find The Easter Bunny In The Bible, Yet He’s Been Around For Awhile Getty Easter Bunny … A custom originating in Germany, the Easter Bunny is a popular legendary anthropomorphic Easter gift-giving character analogous to Santa Claus in American culture. If you are one of our rare donors, you have our gratitude and we warmly thank you. The Navigators - Bible Study - Lesson 4 ... Free Online Catholic Classes for Anyone, Anywhere. Have you ever wondered the history of the Easter Bunny? Saint of the Day for Sunday, May 2nd, 2021. Rabbits are also prolific breeders, especially in the spring when they are most commonly seen interacting with one another. The Easter Bunny is a symbol of Easter that is popular in western culture, especially with children. Such observances of Easter, if they go no further than this, are a faint and feeble shadow of the real meaning of Easter; they are as empty as a plastic egg, as hollow as a chocolate Easter bunny. The Easter Bunny followed German immigrants to the American colonies in the 18th century and the folklore spread across the United States. It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. The holiday was originally a pagan celebration that worshipped the goddess Eastre. On this day 1983 years ago, Jesus died in a climactic battle with the Easter Bunny. Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus from the tomb on the third day after his crucifixion. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Several years ago, our church did a Walk with Jesus event. Jesus fought hard and well, and prevented many homes in the greater Jerusalem area from being egged. According to History, the age-old theory is that the Easter Bunny stems from Pagan traditions. If Catholic Online has given you $5.00 worth of knowledge this year, take a minute to donate. The date of Easter changes every year. The direct link between Easter and rabbits was forged sometime in sixteenth- or seventeenth-century Europe. In legend, the Easter bunny, also called the Easter hare and the spring bunny, brings baskets filled with colored eggs, candy, and sometimes toys to the homes of children on the night before Easter, in much the same way as Santa Claus is said to deliver presents on Christmas Eve. The exact origins of the Easter bunny are clouded in mystery. If you donate just $5.00, or whatever you can, Catholic Online could keep thriving for years. In 1835, Jacob Grimm, the popular collector of fairy tales, suggested that the Easter Bunny came from primitive German pagan traditions. Easter is a Christian holiday, and Christian celebrations focus on the true meaning of Easter: the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The ancient Greeks thought rabbits could reproduce as virgins. The Easter bunny has become the mascot for this … The Easter Bunny was originated by the German Lutherans, playing the role of a judge who evaluated the behaviour of children at the beginning of the Eastertide season. Even the Greeks pointed out this connection. Most people donate because Catholic Online is useful. Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Please attempt to sign up again. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2021 Catholic Online. They talked about the During the medieval period, rabbits began appearing in illuminated manuscripts and paintings where the Virgin Mary was depicted, serving as an allegorical illustration of her virginity. Easter traditions and symbols including eggs, bunnies, and parades. Digital Easter is a Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! Written By. It’s based on the Pagan goddess of fertility, Eostre , whose symbol was a rabbit. The association with rabbits and Easter happened in Protestant Europe. Magazines, Digital Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. To understand the significance of the Easter Bunny, you must first understand the significance of the Easter holiday. Subscribe for just $18. Some trace the word “Easter” to the German If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Or are there Christian symbols embedded in this weird twist on the holiday? READ MORE: Are Easter Eggs pagan or Christian? Definition of Easter Bunny in the Definitions.net dictionary. This page gives an account of all the Easter icons. Please try again later. Whether or not you believe this is true, it is the real meaning behind Easter. Additionally, children often left out carrots for the bunny in case he got hungry from all his hopping. READ TIME: 6 minutes. Thank you. The notion that the Easter Bunny is a pagan symbol developed in the 19th century. According to folklore, the Easter Bunny hides Easter eggs for children to find on Easter morning. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited. What does easter-bunny mean? What about the Easter Bunny? Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our. © 2021 TIME USA, LLC. One such goddess was Eostra (otherwise known as Ostara or Ēostre). However, early Christians weaved the pagan symbolism of the rabbit into their Christian traditions to make the teachings of Jesus Christ more amenable to those outside of the faith. The rabbit has pre-Christian roots associated with fertility, new life, and spring. You have a limited number of free articles. You have 1 free article left. Like Christmas, Easter has become a secular holiday and is now celebrated by believers and non-believers around the globe. Easter bunny, Easter bonnet, Easter lily, Easter egg. By signing up you are agreeing to our, How Black Filmmakers Are Reclaiming Their History Onscreen. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law. It is considered as a folkloric symbol of Easter, which is depicted as a hare/rabbit bringing Easter eggs. Rabbits usually give birth to a big litter of babies (called kittens), so they became a symbol of new life. Easter Bunny Origin and History; Easter Eggs Origin and History; What is Easter? Some identify the holiday with other types of animals like foxes or cuckoo birds. This is because Easter falls on the first Sunday after the full … Stay up to date with the latest news, information, and special offers. Copyright 2021 Catholic Online. Rejoice! Rabbits, known for their energetic breeding, have traditionally symbolized fertility. However, the association between a rabbit and the resurrection of Jesus Christ appears tenuous at best, and the Easter Bunny has been accused of having pagan origins. Keywords: Easter Bunny, pagan, symbol, history, origin. The true victor of the confrontation, the Easter Bunny was able to… You have 2 free articles left. The beloved Easter Bunny has very Christian origins. An unexpected error has occurred with your sign up. So, is the Easter Bunny a secular attempt to distract people from the true meaning of Easter? Meaning of Easter Bunny. Show the volunteers who bring you reliable, Catholic information that their work matters. According to History.com, in the 19th century Russian high society started exchanging ornately decorated eggs—even jewel encrusted—on Easter. Easter is the Christian celebration of the resurrection of Jesus, but the seasonal chocolate eggs and the bunny who delivers them are nowhere to be found in scripture. But it can also involve rabbits (bunnies), color-painted eggs, white baskets and sometimes actual activities such as an “Easter egg hunt” or pictures being taken with an Easter bunny mascot. This is your last free article. Hundreds of years ago, churches had their congregations abstain from eggs during Lent, allowing them to be consumed again on Easter. Bunnies and eggs don’t have to take away from the true meaning of Easter, and we can even use them as tools to explain it! You can unsubscribe at any time. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. The origin of the modern Easter Bunny actually happened in the United States. I didn’t know the meaning behind at least half of the Easter traditions I practice — or plan to practice when I can wrangle my future children into matching poofy dresses and seersucker suits, chasing around 100 plastic eggs, hoping to find the one with a $100 bill inside. She was the goddess of fertility and springtime and her earthly symbol was the rabbit. The story of the Easter Bunny is thought to have become common in the 19th Century. He lived a perfect and blameless life and paid the … Information and translations of Easter Bunny in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. When did the image of a rabbit or hare become associated with the Easter holiday? The origin of the Easter Bunny can be dated back to the 13 th century in Germany. The Easter Bunny is a beloved trope associated with the Easter holiday period. Conversely, there is considerable documentation that the rabbit was once associated with virginity, the Virgin Mary, and with the season itself, in a Christian context. One theory is that the symbol of the rabbit stems from pagan tradition, specifically the festival of Eostre—a goddess of fertility whose animal symbol was a bunny. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. ANSWER: Like the origin of Easter, the origin of the Easter Bunny has roots that go back to pre-Christian, Anglo-Saxon history. To all our readers, Please don't scroll past this. Subscribe for just $18. Eventually, the custom spread across the U.S. and the fabled rabbit’s Easter morning deliveries expanded to include chocolate and other types of candy and gifts, while decorated baskets replaced nests. Such a belief persisted until early medieval times when the rabbit became associated with the Virgin Mary, who we know became pregnant without knowing man. The Easter bunny has no religious meaning at all. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. More than 2,000 years ago, on Resurrection Sunday, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ overcame the grave. Sanjana Kalyanpur . Nationwide — Easter is a very popular annual holiday celebrated by millions around the world every March or April. (noun) But how did the Easter Bunny begin delivering eggs on American shores? Where did the Easter bunny come from? Stations of the Cross Quick Quiz She was revered as the goddess of fertility and spring. As a result, we must conclude, the Easter Bunny is a distinctly Christian symbol, and does not have pagan origins as occasionally claimed by those who despise the popular children's myth. But what is the truth? It is generally celebrated on a Sunday to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, early Christians weaved the pagan symbolism of the rabbit into their Christian traditions to make the teachings of Jesus Christ more amenable to those outside of the faith. It happened in the 18th Century when German immigrants took a tradition to the Pennsylvania Dutch colonies. Eggs are also representative of new life, and it’s believed that decorating eggs for Easter dates back to the 13th century. 98% of our readers don't give; they simply look the other way. Many children around the world follow the tradition of coloring hard-boiled eggs and giving baskets of candy. What is the meaning of the Easter Bunny? Thank you for reading TIME. However, the Christian tradition of the Easter Bunny has distinctly Christian origins. Once Grimm started the rumor, it began to spread, refined to suggest the Easter Bunny comes from the Saxon Goddess Eostre. The Easter Bunny is also popularly known as the Easter Rabbit or the Easter Hare. The Easter Bunny was first popularized as a symbol of the season by the German Protestants. A rabbit of folklore depicted as delivering baskets of colored eggs to children at Easter. Easter falls on different dates annually, ranging between March 21 and April 25 depending on lunar patterns. Magazines, How the White House’s Easter Egg Tradition Got Rolling. The Germanic folk, known as the Teutons, worshiped pagan gods and goddesses. The rabbit has pre-Christian roots associated with fertility, new life, and spring. The Easter Bunny is a symbol of Easter that is popular in western culture, especially with children. Subscribe for just $18. What in the world do these symbols even mean? The Easter Bunny is a beloved trope associated with the Easter holiday period. Every year at our church we hold a family Easter event. 'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'. As a result of their fertility, rabbits have long been associated with spring and with new life. What does Easter Bunny mean? However, the association between a rabbit and the resurrection of Jesus Christ appears tenuous at best, and the Easter Bunny has been accused of having pagan origins. Easter Bunny (Image Source: Shutterstock) Easter is a principal festival for Christians, who believe this day to be the third day after the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Easter Bunny origin, meaning, significance, and story revealed. Like eggs, rabbits are an ancient symbol of fertility and new life. Celebrate Sunday Mass - Fifth Sunday of Easter - 5.2.21, The verdict is in, but the jury is still out. According to History.com, the theory with the most evidence is that the floppy-eared bearer of candy came over with German immigrants: According to some sources, the Easter bunny first arrived in America in the 1700s with German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania and transported their tradition of an egg-laying hare called “Osterhase” or “Oschter Haws.” Their children made nests in which this creature could lay its colored eggs. Some of the symbols of Easter have become so associated with the secular side of the holiday that we no longer see how they can help us communicate the gospel message. It is likely they were the ones to invent the myth of the Easter Bunny for their children. But what is the meaning of Easter from the Bible, and why do Christians celebrate this holiday? Maybe it’s because we’ve lost sight of the big picture. Today, we humbly ask you to defend Catholic Online's independence. Even in earliest folklore, the Easter Bunny came as a judge, hiding decorated eggs for well-behaved children. Not many know the true nature of Jesus' heroic sacrifice. Group Publishing created an awesome family event for Easter that centers on the last week of Jesus’ life. Easter is a festival and holiday celebrated by millions of people around the world who honor the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred three days after his crucifixion at Calvary. Read next: How the White House’s Easter Egg Tradition Got Rolling, Updated: February 21, 2020 10:17 AM ET | Originally published: April 1, 2015 2:35 PM EDT. You have 3 free articles left. Are agreeing to our, How the White House ’ s Easter egg tradition got Rolling follow the of... Easter event was first popularized as a result of their fertility,,... And symbols including eggs, bunnies, and prevented many homes in the when. 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