it's not a bunny .... it's a hare.
So much for myths ...
hares are born with their eyes open (rabbits are born blind), and
supposedly don't blink or close their eyes. Thus, these
nocturnal animals became symbols for the the full moon
which does not blink ( except when a few clouds pass by ) .
The Egyptians named the hare, "UN", meaning "open"
or "to open."
The Venerable (Saint) Bede, the English historian ( 672? - 735 ) , says the Easter feast was named after Eostre and held at the vernal equinox.
Bede's home is in South Shields, England ( Newcastle ) were dr. leyden did his archeology 'dig' in the summer of 1995.
EASTRE: and egg were her symbols.
Some slick-talking missionaries merged the 'pagan'
festival with Christian intent.
For a long time it was celebrated on Friday or
Saturday or Sunday and then The Council Nicaea
( A.D. 325 ) proposed a "fixed" but sliding date. ( see: when was the first Good Friday )
The group also adopted a Christian logo: the cross.
About l00 years later, these Teutonic Easter traditions were accept.
Thus ... a' la Xmas, when Santa comes ... the Easter Hare would make a trip to the nests children built on easter eve.
Some parents set bonfires on Easter Eve and told the children "that 'Wascal Wabbit' did it" --
[ well, that's what Mel Blanc told his
kids ].
That is -- the arsonist Easter bunny burned wildflowers
to procure dyes for his eggs.
Eostre supposedly opened the gates of Valhalla ( heaven ) to Baldur, the murdered Sun God who had brought light to humankind.
EOSTRE : she was the Anglo-Saxon spring goddess ... and the hare
these Easter customs were carried to America via German
immigrants in the l8th century. However, many early settlers,
unlike the fibs we are told, were not at all religious and didn't want any part of religious festivals
[ celebrating Xmas in Massachusetts resulted in a 5 shilling fine ] .