Jon Solo Sebastian 03/22/2024:

Does anyone not have a picture of themselves as a child crying on the lap of the Easter Bunny? Easter is a time for celebration regardless of your beliefs and lifestyles. Spring is here. Snow is melting, birds are singing, baby bunnies are hopping all over the land, and the sun is shining down to warm our hearts and minds. So why do we feel so inclined to cry in the presence of the Easter Bunny? Is there a dark side behind him, or is it just the fact that he’s a rabbit large enough to eat us if he so chooses?

These are the thoughts I have while I’m battling insomnia at six o’clock in the morning; well that, and wondering if penguins have knees. That one is for another time. The Easter Bunny, who is he and what linked him to Christianity?

The Origin of the Rabbit

While most would point to the bible, there is no mention of the Easter Bunny in it. It’s not difficult to understand the symbolism though. Easter is a holiday based on rebirth and renewal. To Christians, Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Christ; rebirth. For Pagans, it was to praise the goddess of fertility and spring known as Ostara; it’s said the word “Easter” comes from the goddess’s name.

“In 1835, the folklorist Jacob Grimm, one of the famous team of the fairy tale Brothers Grimm, argued that the Easter hare was connected to a goddess he imagined would have been called ‘Ostara’ in ancient German. He derived this name from the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre, who Bede, an early medieval monk considered to be the father of English history, mentioned in 731 C.E. He wrote that a pagan festival of spring in the name of the goddess had become assimilated into the Christian celebration of the resurrection of Christ.”

We have the Easter connections to renewal and rebirth with Christianity and Paganism, but how does the rabbit hop onto the pages of its history? Rabbits are known as productive little procreators and symbolize fertility and new life. This connects them to the resurrection of Christ and the goddess of fertility when you take their own symbolizations into consideration.

In the 1700’s, it’s believed the Easter Bunny came to America via German immigrants who lived in Pennsylvania. With their immigration, they brought the tradition of an egg-laying rabbit named Oschter Haws. Their children made nests for the rabbit to deliver its colored eggs on Easter morning.

This tradition spread rapidly across the United States, and over time evolved into Easter egg hunts, baskets with chocolates and candy, along with gifts, and other celebrations. The religious, or Christian, celebration of Easter is solely on the resurrection of Christ while the rabbit takes on the childlike wonder and joy end of it for children. The Easter Bunny can be considered a bridge connecting both parts with its symbol of rebirth to help teach what Easter is truly about.

Something that’s unintentionally becoming a running theme in my pieces is how many of these creatures have a joker, or Loki side to them. Rabbits are no different according to a BBC article – “Hares were venerated in Celtic mythology, and are portrayed as canny tricksters in the myths of Native American tribes including the Michabo and Manabush. Similar tales are to be found in Central African fables and the related figure of Br’er Rabbit, the ultimate hero of cunning. It’s impossible not to see cartoon rabbits – including Bugs Bunny – also following in this ancient tradition of the animal’s craftiness.” Look no further than Bugs Bunny to see how far rabbits will go with their trickery!

While rabbits can be tricksters, I thankfully, found no real dark side to them. I appreciate the pure light side of the creature and of its history because in a world that feels dark and grim more often than not, we could use a little light. Whether you celebrate Christian Easter, or Pagan, or any other version, I wish you all good health and happiness. If you’ve been having a rough time, consider Easter Sunday to be what it is—rebirth and renewal, and take that as a fresh start.