Ever pondered the origins of the Easter Bunny? Why not the Easter Chook, considering rabbits don’t lay eggs? Well, let's dive into the tale.
The story of the Easter Bunny likely gained traction in the 19th century, though its earliest mention dates back to 1682. Eggs, symbols of fertility and rebirth, have been associated with resurrection for centuries. Rabbits, renowned for their energetic breeding, also symbolise new life. Hence, the fertile bunny and the egg of fertility became intertwined.
During Lent, a period of sacrifice leading to Easter that is still celebrated today, many Christians abstained from indulgences, including animal products like meat, dairy, and eggs. Yet, while people refrained from consuming eggs, hens didn’t cease laying them. To avoid waste, eggs were hard-boiled, decorated, and saved for Easter consumption.
In Britain, the tradition evolved further with cardboard eggs covered in colourful satin. In the 1800s, France and Germany introduced chocolate eggs. Today, kids worldwide, including those in Australia, eagerly embark on Easter egg hunts, indulging in delicious choccy delights.
In Australia, real rabbits (not Easter Bunny) are seen as pests, so many Australians have also begun celebrating the Easter Bilby. Easter Bilby champions the cause of native plants and animals, reclaiming the Australian bush from European wild rabbits.
My great friend, Bianca, has illustrated a beautiful book titled, 'Banjo Frog’s Concert Spectacular,' which is the first release in the Easter Bilby's Friends series. It’s a great read for Easter while educating kids about how they can create safe places for Bilbies to live and thrive! Check it out here.
You can even buy delicious Easter Bilby chocolates from South Australian chocolatier, Haighs, here.
And, if you'd like your kids to know where real eggs come from (the chook variety), you can't go past George the Farmer Egg Enigma! Pick up a copy here.
This Easter, will you be celebrating with the Easter bunny, chook, or bilby?