During the Easter holiday season,

eggs are painted, decorated with vibrant colours, patterns and embellishments.

The adorned eggs are scattered about;

as the tale goes, left by the Easter Bunny.

Young children engage in a hunt to find the eggs and fill their Easter baskets.

It is a festive and fun-filled event,

another colour-filled occasion by which many mark the arrival of Spring

 

 

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Why eggs?

The egg as a symbol of Spring is recognised in various cultures

as a revitilisation of the earth after the harsh winter.

During the Middle Ages,  the affluent covered eggs with gold leaf

and gave these as Easter presents.

The poorer members of society, coloured their eggs with

dyes made from vegetation.

This egg gift-giving represented Spring:

celebration of life

 

 

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Why a bunny?

Rabbits and hares have long been regarded as symbols of heighten fertility,

given their ability to breed often and produce in large numbers.

Spring is the season of the earth’s heighten productivity;

so the association of Spring and rabbits was inevitable.

 

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And why,  an Easter Bunny?

Some say this folklore has German roots pointing to a

German tale of an “egg-laying” hare:   Osterhase.

During the 18th century, German immigrants brought this story

with them to the United States

Good children received coloured eggs in their baskets left out for

The Osterhase, Easter Bunny.

As with any good story, it was continually repeated and became tradition .

 

 

Whatever the full origins of the Easter Bunny and Easter eggs

the symbolism is clear:

Spring  bounces,   Spring hops,  Spring bestows

life,  energy,  newness,  colour

and even decorated eggs!

 

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Happy Easter!