Have you ever sat at Easter dinner and wondered, why a rabbit? Out of all the animals, why is a bunny Easter’s mascot? Why not a chick, which at least hatches from an egg, or something that is more connected with Jesus and the Bible? What makes a rabbit relevant to one of the most significant holidays in Christianity?
Easter is one of, if not the most important, holidays for Christians. According to Christian belief, Jesus was crucified by the Romans around 30-33 AD and rose from the dead on the third day after his burial. It is a holiday that honors Jesus Christ and his resurrection, and a celebration of good prevailing.
While most people know that Easter is a Christian holiday, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, most don’t know that Easter traditions actually predate Christianity. Traditions similar to that of Easter, such as Easter eggs, have been around since AD 595, many of them being taken from the pagan spring festivals. As Christianity spread throughout Europe, many spring traditions were absorbed into Easter. Symbols like eggs and rabbits, ancient symbols of fertility and renewal, became associated with the holiday. These traditions were eventually Christianized; for example, Easter eggs came to represent the empty tomb of Jesus Christ.
But what about the rabbit? The main theory is that Easter as we know it took inspiration from the festival of Eostre, which celebrated the Germanic goddess of spring and fertility. Her symbol was a rabbit after rabbits’ high fertility and reproduction rates.
So while the Easter bunny has no specific ties to the Bible, it fits into the overall themes of Easter: renewal, rebirth, and growth. The Easter bunny evolved over the years from a symbol of fertility to the candy-giving mascot that we know today. It’s a perfect example of how cultures can build off each other.
Spring 2026 
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