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Easter Bunny

The Easter Bunny (also called the Easter Rabbit or Easter Hare) is a folkloric figure and symbol of Easter, depicted as a rabbit—sometimes dressed with clothes—bringing Easter eggs. Originating among German Lutherans, the "Easter Hare" originally played the role of a judge, evaluating whether children were good or disobedient in behavior at the start of the season of Eastertide,[1] similar to the "naughty or nice" list made by Santa Claus. As part of the legend, the creature carries colored eggs in its basket, as well as candy, and sometimes toys, to the homes of children. As such, the Easter Bunny again shows similarities to Santa (or the Christkind) and Christmas by bringing gifts to children on the night before a holiday. The custom was first mentioned in Georg Franck von Franckenau's De ovis paschalibus ("About Easter Eggs") in 1682, referring to a German tradition of an Easter Hare bringing eggs for the children.[2][3]

Grouping

Animal

Folkloric figure and symbol of Easter

Easter Rabbit, Easter Hare

Dreihasenfenster ('Window of Three Hares') in Paderborn Cathedral in Paderborn, Germany

Dreihasenfenster ('Window of Three Hares') in Paderborn Cathedral in Paderborn, Germany

Easter bunnies and Easter eggs as Easter biscuits

Easter bunnies and Easter eggs as Easter biscuits

Marshmallow bunnies and candy eggs in an Easter basket

Marshmallow bunnies and candy eggs in an Easter basket

A real live bunny with decorated Easter eggs

A real live bunny with decorated Easter eggs

Chocolate Easter bunnies

Chocolate Easter bunnies

Chocolate Easter Bunny molds from Alsace Musée du pain d'épices

Chocolate Easter Bunny molds from Alsace Musée du pain d'épices

Domestic and pet rabbits

Easter Bilby

Mad as a March hare

Rabbits and hares in art

. "The Easter Hare". Folk-Lore. Vol. 3, No. 4 (December 1892).

Charles J. Billson

(Easter Fox) (in German)

Osterfuchs

Bott, Adrian (2011) The modern myth of the Easter bunny, The Guardian, Sat 23 Apr 2011

Oberle K. A. (1883). Überreste germanischen Heidentums im Christentum: Oder, die Wochentage, Monate und christlichen Feste. p. 104.