Which Came First, The Bunny Or The Egg?

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Even though rabbits don't lay eggs, each year we are visited by a generous hare that delivers eggs. We paint them, eat ones made out of chocolate and send cards with them on it. And, while we have come to accept the curious sight of a large Easter Bunny carry a basket of eggs, most of us don't know exactly where the tradition came from.

Since ancient days, the egg has been the symbol of new life. Even before it became entwined with the Christian Easter, eggs were used by Romans, Chinese and Egyptians in spring festivals as a way to celebrate the dawn of a new season. In Pagan times, the egg represented the rebirth of Earth and was seen to have magical powers that would bless the start of the growing season – they were even buried amongst crops.

In the western context, eggs were originally forbidden during Lent as well as other traditional spring fasting days in western Christianity. But since chickens would not stop producing eggs, the end of the fast meant there was an unusually large surplus of eggs that needed to be eaten just in time for Easter.

The Easter Bunny followed German settlers who arrived in the Pennsylvania Dutch country during the 18th century. The arrival of the Easter Bunny, or Osterhase, was considered one of childhood's greatest pleasures, similar to the arrival of Kris Kringle on Christmas Eve.

According to the tradition, children would build brightly coloured nests, often out of caps and bonnets, in secluded areas of their homes. The Osterhase would, if the children had been good, lay brightly coloured eggs in the nest. As the tradition spread, the nest has become a manufactured modern Easter basket and the placing of the nest in a secluded area has become the tradition of hiding baskets.