Easter is a Christian holiday commemorating Jesus’s resurrection. Three days after his initial crucifixion, Jesus is said to have risen. Jesus’s resurrection made it clear that he was and is God, the only person with the power to choose when they live and die.
Then, where does the bunny come in? Well, like many Christian holidays, Easter borrows from the Pagan tradition of Ostara or the Spring Equinox.
During the holiday, Pagan followers decorated eggs (symbols of fertility), had feasts, and connected with nature through gardening during the plant-rich season.
Rabbits or “bunnies” are thought of as symbols of fertility and renewal in many cultures. Because of this, and the animal’s association with the season as a whole, it seems only natural that it would be chosen as a symbol of such a holiday.
The United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom all recognize the beloved bunny.
Australia and New Zealand celebrate with the “Easter Bilby,” a rabbit-like animal native to Australia.
Germany celebrates with the rabbit’s more terrifying cousin, the hare or “Osterhase.”
