River Sofia
Christians observe Easter on the first Sunday after the first full moon on (or after) the Vernal Equinox. This is the day when the majority of the Earth experiences nearly equal hours of sunlight and nighttime, which signals the arrival of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. This explains why Easter falls on a different date each year.
But before Christianity was an established religion, there was a pagan holiday that also fell around the time of the March equinox, a festival for the fertility goddess, Eastre (or Eostre). Her associated symbols included the hare, along with the egg, both of which have represented new life since ancient times. Some scholars believe that in Medieval Europe, Christian missionaries hoped to convert Anglo-Saxons to Christianity by aligning Easter to the days of these pagan festivals and adopting similar traditions. This could explain how rabbits first got connected to the Christian holiday.
Others believe that since Germans initially brought this tradition to the United States, the Easter Bunny should logically live somewhere in Europe. Much like his origins, it seems there will always be some mystery to his present-day whereabouts.
Based on pagan folklore and his traditionally white fur, the Easter Bunny appears to be an Arctic hare. This means he has very tall ears, and a coat that naturally camouflages him in the snow. If spring comes early, however, he may have a brown coat: Arctic hares molt or shed their fur with the changing seasons, becoming brown for better camouflage during the summer. When it comes to most Easter Bunny costumes though, you’ll typically see him flaunting his white winter look.
The Easter Bunny also occasionally wears clothes. His common accessories include vests and bow ties in orange, the color of his favorite carrots. He typically carries a basket filled with colorful eggs, candy, and other treats to dole out to children. Like Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny often shows preferential treatment to well-behaved children, rewarding them with the best loot.
