Since before the emergence of Christianity, rabbits have been linked to spring and fertility in Germany. Eostra, a Germanic goddess of spring and fertility, was actually represented by the rabbit. In light of the fact that rabbits reproduce frequently, this is not odd.
Rabbits have a youthful sexual maturity and can have numerous litters in a single year. This paganism for spring and fertility is thought to have mingled with Christian practices in Germany in the 17th century.
In order to put it another way, paganism's celebrations of fertility and rebirth were overlaid by the Christian holiday of Easter, which commemorated the resurrection of Jesus.
In the past, symbols of fertility included eggs, rabbits, and spring, while rebirth was symbolized by the animal. Despite the fact that rabbits don't lay eggs, the connection of these emblems was therefore nearly inevitable. Thereafter, there would be a connection between the long-standing idea of rebirth and Jesus' resurrection.
The term "Oschter Haws" (Easter hare) first appears in writings from Germany's 17th century. Furthermore, folklore holds that obedient kids' nests (baskets) would be where the Easter bunny would store the colorful eggs. Therefore, the Easter bunny tradition was introduced to America in the 18th century by German immigrants.
A rabbit's foot has such a long history of being considered "lucky." Rabbit feet have a long history of being connected to witchcraft. They were regularly offered for sale as charms for intelligence in the 1800s. They became well-liked good luck symbols in Britain in the 1930s.
The kind of rabbit you are discussing must be understood. Regardless of the specific rabbit you're referring to, it can be any one of several different species. Oryctolagus cuniculus, which includes the majority of domestic species and the European wild rabbit, is the group to which the majority of rabbits belong.
There was a custom called the "Hare Pie Scramble" which featured consuming a pie filled with hare meat and "scrambling" for a piece. Due to the ceremony's pagan roots, the local parson tried to abolish it in 1790. However it wasn't successful, and the habit has persisted in that village ever since.
It's possible that the eating of the hare was related to numerous age-old folk customs of frightening away witches during Easter. Folklore from all around northern Europe indicates a strong conviction that witches frequently assume the shape of a hare, generally to do disturbance like taking away milk from neighbors' cows.
In medieval Europe, it was believed that witches had the power to drain people's spiritual power and put them ill. Therefore, several celebrations and ceremonies in Europe feature the widespread folk concept that the witches of winter must be exorcised at Easter. In symbolic contrast to the life-sucking practices of witches and winter, the spring equinox, with its promise of new life, was observed.
In addition, The Osterfeuer, or Easter Fire, is a German holiday marked by enormous outdoor bonfires intended to frighten away witches. Meanwhile, according to popular folklore in Sweden, at Easter the witches all ride off on broomsticks to the mythical island of Blkulla in the Baltic Sea to banquet and dance with the devil.
We also have more printable easter you may like:
Printable Easter Bunny Ears
Printable Easter Bunny Tails
Easter Bunny Tails Printable
Due to their pagan origins as symbols of fertility and rebirth, the rabbit and the egg have become associated with the spring celebration. Rather than an (actual) chicken, it appears that these two pictures combined to form the mythical egg-laying rabbit of German folklore.
Eggs are a well-known Easter symbol that, depending on who is laying them, have to appear to stand in for Christ's triumphant ascension from the grave and resurrection, according to History. Eggs may have been embellished for entertainment on Easter morning after the Lenten fast was completed, which is one explanation for egg decoration.
Therefore, every Easter Sunday, on April 17, the Easter Bunny will indeed serve to delight and thrill kids all around the world.
Even though there isn't a living example of the famous egg-laying rabbit, History claims that German immigrants introduced it to America in the 1700s.
Today’s modern baskets, however, are frequently far more extravagant and contain toys, candy, and cash or pocket change disguised within plastic eggs instead of traditional sweets and small goodies.