By Brooke Mekonnen and Graciella Bang-On

What comes to mind when you think of Easter? Images of colourful eggs, egg hunts, and the Easter Bunny probably made the list of the things you thought of. The Easter Bunny especially is a well-established symbol of Easter, and is used often for decorations as a representation of the holiday. 

Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus, so how does that relate to a bunny that gives decorated eggs to children? The origins of the Easter Bunny did not come from the Bible, but from an old tradition that changed over time. While Easter celebrates Jesus rising from the dead, things like the Easter Bunny and Easter eggs were added later, and do not come from the original biblical story.

 The idea of a bunny bringing eggs came from German immigrants to the United States in the 1700s. They had a tradition about a bunny called the “Oschter Haws” that laid colourful eggs for kids. When they immigrated to America, they brought this tradition with them, and it became popular.

Other countries had different animals for Easter. In Switzerland, for example, it was a cuckoo bird instead of a bunny. The idea was that similar animals bring eggs to celebrate spring and a new life.

Over the years, the Easter Bunny became a big part of how people celebrate Easter, especially for kids. Now, the Easter Bunny brings baskets with candy, eggs, and toys, sometimes hiding them for egg hunts. It is fun, exciting, and not particularly religious.

Thanks for reading Falcons, and Happy Easter to those who celebrated this past month!