Why are eggs and bunny rabbits associated with Easter?

The Easter bunny dates back to the 13th-century when people prayed to multiple gods and goddesses. Eostra, the goddess of fertility and spring, was symbolized with the rabbit and is believed to have crossed over. The first mention of an Easter bunny wasn’t until the 1500s and it was in the 1680’s that the story of the bunny was published.

Eggs first became associated with Easter in Medieval Europe. The Church forbade people to consume eggs during Lent and as such, the eggs laid during the 40 days would be preserved and stored. With an abundance of eggs, they would be consumed on Easter. Orthodox Christians in Greece and the Middle Easter dye their eggs red to represent the blood of Christ shed at his crucifixion.

Germany first made chocolate eggs for Easter in the 19th century. The Easter egg is symbolic of rebirth, but using eggs to celebrate is a tradition that dates back to the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and the Zoroastrians in Persia who dyed eggs to celebrate the start of spring. The Chinese also dye eggs when a newborn enters the world.

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