It's unbelievable that so many of us look forward to the Easter bunny coming on Easter, yet we know little to nothing about its whereabouts. Therefore, now is the time to learn some fun trivia about the Easter Bunny and Easter itself. Not only to feed that personal curiosity, but also to be prepared to answer all the kids' questions, which will surely come in waterfalls. So here is some general information on Easter, the Easter Bunny, and Easter eggs.

Easter

Easter is one of the most important Christian holidays throughout the year. Although in recent years it has gained popularity with non-Christians and traditions such as the egg hunt and the Easter bunny are celebrated by many around the world. In its Christian meaning, Easter is connected to the resurrection of Jesus, who on the third day after his crucifixion has come alive. The day Jesus was crucified is known as Good Friday and Easter day is also referred to as Easter Sunday.

Unlike Christmas, the day when Jesus was born, Easter does not have a fixed date. According to Wikipedia, it falls on or after the winter equinox, March 21 and it is calculated following the cycle of the moon. Due to that volatility, sometimes different Christians celebrate Easter of different days depending of their type, be it Orthodox, Catholic, etc.

The Easter Bunny

The Easter Bunny is the famous creature that brings baskets of multicolored eggs, candy and other goodies to children the night before Easter Sunday. Or at least, that is what we know. The topic is up for debate, as no one seems to really know it actual origins. Wikipedia says that it originated with a game children use to play in the 1700s at the beginning of spring whereas they would build colorful nests out of garments, and if they were good that year, the "Oschter Haws" would leave colorful eggs in the nests. Progresivelly this tradition has changed to the egg hunt we have today.

The bunny was chosen as a symbol for this spring holiday, as it is a symbol of fertility and it is a known fact that everything comes to life and starts blooming in spring. This is why, many of the Easter decorations involve stuffed bunnies, bunny figurines and many other bunny related items. They are all there to symbolize the re-birth of nature and also to remind us of the Easter bunny.

The Easter Eggs

Similarly to the bunny, eggs are also a sign of fertility. Fertility is the main theme of the start of spring, which is one of the reasons we also see lots of decoration that involves little chicks and baby ducks as part of the Easter décor. The new birth refers to the same fertility and blooming that spring brings.

Nevertheless, the painting of eggs has its roots in religion. It is said that Jesus' blood was spread over some eggs that were placed at the bottom of the cross, His blood painted the eggs red. In many Christian traditions, the red painted eggs are supposed to be tapped at the end, while saying an Easter incantation praising the resurrection of Jesus.

Therefore, tradition calls for the eggs to be painted, although we have transformed the color from red to multicolored. So this is why next to all those cute plush ducks and cute little chicks decorations we place beautiful multicolored eggs. Also, the egg tapping has been transformed to a fun game of finding the hardest egg. The egg that survives the most taps wins.

Now that you know all this trivia you are ready to face even the most curious child and all his Easter questions. Plus, you are sure to find the most appropriate stuffed bunnies and bunny figurines to represent the most beloved Easter Bunny.