History of the Easter Bunny

• The Easter Bunny is a symbol of new life during the spring season.
• The idea of the Easter Bunny with baskets of eggs started in Europe as the Easter Hare. The hare was originally a symbol of Easter for the Germans who came to America in the 18th century.
• German settlers believed a white hare would leave brightly colored eggs for all good children on Easter morning.
• Early American children built nests of leaves and sticks in their gardens for the Easter Hare to fill with colored eggs.
• By the 19th century in America, the Easter Hare had become the Easter Bunny delighting children with baskets of eggs, chocolates, candy chicks, jelly beans and other gifts on Easter morning.