Easter Fun in Shady Pines
The level of activity has certainly picked up this week. Before you know it, Easter will be here.
“This is one of my favorite holidays in our small Southern town,” says Mayor Beauregard P. Fibbs. “Main Street comes alive with gals looking for spring dresses to wear to Easter services;
guys look for new shirts and ties to spruce up their looks; and kids search for new oufits along with goodies to fill their Easter baskets.”
But there’s one story that the good mayor of Shady Pines likes to tell children when he meets with them at the Shady Pines Elementary School. Each year, just before 
Easter he sits with the kids to tell them about the Legend of the Easter bunny.
Basically, this is what he tells them:
Why An Easter Bunny?
“Have you ever wondered how the legend of an egg-laying rabbit came to be associated a Christian holiday like Easter? Think about it. Why do we have a rabbit and not a chicken? After all, a chicken actually does lay eggs (even if they typically don’t come out dyed and decorated.)
Well children, it turns out the exact beginings of the Easter Bunny legend is not easy to pin down.
But, there is a solid historical reason why the mythical creature is a rabbit.
You see, rabbits have long been associated with springtime celebrations. After all, it’s the season when baby bunnies are born.
Way, way back in time the symbol of the season of renewal was the goddess of dawn and new birth. Her name was Eostre. Sounds like Easter, doesn’t it?
She was typically represented in art by a woman in a flowing gown. The goddess’ name came from the ancient word for spring: “Eastre.” Eostre’s sacred animal was a rabbit. The symbol of the rebirth of life in the springtime was the egg. That’s the connection.
Now, rabbits and eggs have long been associated with Easter. But the egg-laying chocolate-delivering Easter bunny as we know it doesn’t appear in history until sometime in the 1600s.
The Legend Arrives in America
That’s when a rabbit whose name, Osterhas, translates to ‘Easter rabbit’ was said to lay colorful eggs for children to find on Easter Sunday. When the first Europeans arrived in America a hundred years later, the tradition came with them.
That tradition also included having children make their own nests or baskets in the week leading up to Easter, and then the Osterhase would leave eggs for them.
And that’s how the practice of designing and filling Easter baskets was born.
So here’s what you need to remember. Whether you receive an Easter basket on this special spring holiday, or play the role of the Easter bunny this year, keep this in mind.
You can thank that old rabbit ‘Osterhase’ and the long history of the Easter bunny for giving us the excuse to eat a few extra chocolates this season!”
Thank you Mayor Fibbs!
Really enjoyed this
How cool is this story? I’m sending it to my daughter so my grandson can learn about the legend of the Easter Bunny
Love the story!
Happy Easter
Thank you. And a Happy Easter to you, too, Teresa!
This was so interesting. I never knew this story
I love Shady Pines. Wish I could be there for Easter
You learn something new everyday. Never knew the origin of the Easter Bunny. Thanks for sharing, Mary Jane. Love your books!
So glad you liked the post and the books Linda!
Who knew this was the origin of the Easter Bunny?
This is so clever and informative. Good work!
I love this!
I never knew the legend of the Easter Bunny. Well done Mayor Fibbs
Fun information! Thank you.
You’re very welcome!
Very informative! I had no idea about the origin of the Easter bunny.
We used to get new outfits every Easter, complete with gloves, hats and shiny shoes.
Glad you liked it!