Easter Bunny (folklore) (2024)

FAQs

How to answer questions about the Easter Bunny? ›

You might say: “All kids hear the story about the Easter bunny, and when they figure out it's not real, it's a really special moment. It shows how much you've grown and how clever you are at working things out on your own. I think we should celebrate!”

One popular story you might have seen recently involves the origin of the Easter Bunny. Essentially, the tale is that Ostara, the ancient Germanic goddess of the spring, transformed a bird into a hare, and the hare responded by laying colored eggs for her festival.

Remind kids it's supposed to be fun.

“You can explain to them that the Easter bunny isn't real, but it's something fun to believe in," Patel says.

And what do they have to do with the resurrection of Jesus? Well, nothing. Bunnies, eggs, Easter gifts and fluffy, yellow chicks in gardening hats all stem from pagan roots. They were incorporated into the celebration of Easter separately from the Christian tradition of honoring the day Jesus Christ rose from the dead.

Where did he come from? In old German folklore, there was a goddess named Eostre. She was the spring goddess of fertility of humans and crops. Both hares and eggs were used as symbols for this mythological figure, because they both represented fertility.

The most prominent secular symbol of the Christian holiday, the Easter bunny, was reportedly introduced to America by the German immigrants who brought over their stories of an egg-laying hare.

The Easter Bunny is a rabbit that delivers presents and eggs to children on Easter. The tradition goes back a very long way just like the ones about Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy. His real name is Peter Cottontail, just like how Santa's real name is either Saint Nicholas or Kris Kringle.

You might tell your child: “Even though there's no actual Easter bunny, the magic of Easter is really about doing all the fun things together with our family and friends, and showing each other we love them by giving chocolate gifts.”

As we mentioned earlier, there's really no set age when your child should stop believing in the Easter bunny.

Usually between the ages of 8 and 10, children start questioning the logic of these myths.

What gender is the Easter Bunny? ›

Sometime in the 1600s, the Germans converted the pagan rabbit image into Oschter Haws, a rabbit that was believed to lay a nest of colored eggs as gifts for good children. Since males don't lay eggs, one would surmise the 'Easter Bunny' must then be female.

The Easter Bunny's origins can be traced back to ancient pagan customs and fertility symbols. In pre-Christian times, various cultures in Europe revered the hare as a symbol of fertility and rebirth due to its prolific breeding habits.

The rabbit, though it chews the cud, does not have a split hoof; it is unclean for you. And the pig, though it has a split hoof completely divided, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you. You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.

Well, the Easter bunny tradition was originated by Lutherans in the 1600s … so … no.

Originating among German Lutherans, the "Easter Hare" originally played the role of a judge, evaluating whether children were good or disobedient in behavior at the start of the season of Eastertide, similar to the "naughty or nice" list made by Santa Claus.

From its ancient pagan origins to its modern-day celebrations around the world, the Easter Bunny continues to captivate the imaginations of children and adults alike. As a symbol of fertility, renewal, and new beginnings, the Easter Bunny embodies the spirit of Easter and the joy of springtime.