Rabbits don’t lay eggs, or do they? Easter time is the time of the year that is filled with candy, religious celebrations, easter eggs, and of coarse, the Easter Bunny. But where did the Easter Bunny come from?
The first references to the Easter Bunny date back to the early 1600’s in Germany. Oschter Haws, or Osterhase (that is how the Germans referred to the Easter Bunny), would, according to tradition, leave brightly colored eggs for children, if they were good. The children would build brightly colored nests out of caps and bonnets, and hide them in secluded areas of their homes for the Easter Bunny. From this came the modern Easter Basket that is often hidden for children to find on Easter morning.
So, why a bunny or hare? This is often disputed, but it is said that the bunny and hare are fertility symbols. Bunnies give raise to large litters of offspring early in the spring, and thus are a symbol of earth’s fertility. In fact, some bunnies will get pregnant with a second litter while they are still pregnant with the first litter. The two litters are born separately. This is known as superfetation and has rarely occurred in humans. Bunnies will often give birth to several litters a year.
So what is the different between a bunny, a rabbit, or a hare? First, bunnies are rabbits, however, Hares are a different species. Hares are larger, faster, have black markings, live alone (or in pairs), live in nests, generally have longer ears and larger feet than rabbits. Rabbits tend to live in burrows, and unlike Hares, give birth to hairless babies. Neither the Rabbit nor the Hare lay eggs!
Easter Fun Facts
Easter Eggs date back to the time of the Egyptians, they were given as gifts.
Kids prefer RED Jelly Beans.
After Halloween, Easter is the biggest candy consuming holiday.
76% of people bite off the ears of a chocolate bunny first.
There were only sixty-nine Fabergé Eggs ever made!
Hot Cross Buns are traditionally eaten on Good Friday.