Easter bunny is a symbol of Easter, represented by a rabbit bringing Easter eggs and candy to children. There are many legends about the origins of Easter Bunny. In the medieval period, rabbits were associated with Virgin Mary. Easter Bunny first came to be used as a symbol for Easter by German Protestants.
Easter is a holiday and a festival celebrating the resurrection of the Jesus from the tomb on the third day after his crucifixion. It is preceded by a forty-day period of fasting, prayer, and penance, which is known as Lent or Great Lent.
Key Areas Covered
1. Who is Easter Bunny
– Definition, Portrayal
2. What is the Legend of the Easter Bunny
– Stories about the Origins of Easter Bunny
Who is Easter Bunny
Easter Bunny, a rabbit bringing Easter eggs, is a symbol of Easter. During Easter, Easter Bunnies can often be seen delivering and/or hiding Easter eggs (decorated hard-boiled eggs or artificial chocolate eggs given at Easter). Easter bunny is supposed to be originating from German Lutherans. According to legend, it carries coloured eggs and candy in his baskets to the homes of children. Some stories also present it in the role of a judge who evaluates whether children were disobedient in behaviour during the Easter season. This is similar to the stories about Santa Clause.
It is also said that Easter bunny keeps the baskets in a chosen place or hide them in the house or garden so that children can find them when they wake up in the morning. It is this story that gave rise to the tradition of Easter egg hunt. However, the story of the Easter Bunny or Easter eggs are not in the Bible; there are several stories about the legend of the Easter Bunny and how it came to be.
What is the Legend of the Easter Bunny
Rabbits have long been associated with fertility and new life due to their prolific breeding habits. In ancient times, rabbits were also considered to be hermaphrodite, i.e., having the ability to reproduce without losing its virginity. Thus, rabbits became to be associated with Virgin Mary. During the middle ages, rabbits began appearing in illuminated manuscripts and paintings where the Virgin Mary was depicted, as an allegorical illustration of her virginity.
Easter Bunny first came to be used as a symbol for Easter by German Protestants. It is said that the legend of the Easter bunny (Oschter Haws) was introduced to the United States by German settlers in the 1700s. This was soon followed by the tradition of making nests for the rabbit to lay its eggs. These nets were originally made from bonnets, hats or fancy paper boxes. Eventually, nests became decorated baskets, and candy and other small treats were added to the baskets in addition to the colorful eggs. Over the past centuries, Easter bunny has become one of the most commercially recognized religious symbols.
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