The History of the Easter Bunny

Image via White Rabbit England Hippity hoppity, Easter's on its way as the song goes! Mamas and papas are busy buying chocolate eggs and baskets and their squalling tykes are waiting in line at shopping malls to get their photo taken with the Easter Bunny. But when exactly did we start anticipating the rabbit's arrival every Easter morning in America?   We can thank German immigrants for bringing the legend of the Easter Bunny to the States. In pre-Christian Germany, around the 13th century, people worshiped gods and goddesses. One of those goddesses was named Eostra (sounds a lot like Easter, doesn't it?) She was the goddess of spring and fertility and the rabbit was her symbol because of the bunny's tendency to multiply!   As early as the 18th century, German settlers in the Pennsylvania Dutch area told their children about tales of an egg-laying hare who dispensed eggs, candy and trinkets to good children on Easter morning. He was known as the Osterhase--which of course, later become known as the Easter Bunny in more modern times. Children would find eggs from the Osterhase in their bonnets and caps.   So folks, here's hoping that you've been good enough that the Osterhase will pay you a visit this upcoming Sunday! Happy Easter!