The Easter Bunny lays Eggs?? What???

We've been having some discussions about the Easter Bunny and Easter eggs around the Enger home lately; Where did the bunny come from, why is it in fact a bunny, does he lay the eggs? and what in the world does all this have to do with JESUS and his resurrection, which is the main reason we celebrate Easter. So, if you've always wondered too, here's what we found!


Who is the Easter Bunny?


Today on Easter Sunday, many children wake up to find that the Easter Bunny has left them baskets of candy.  He has also hidden the eggs that they decorated earlier that week.  Children hunt for the eggs all around the house.  Neighborhoods and organizations hold Easter egg hunts, and the child who finds the most eggs wins a prize.

The Easter Bunny is a rabbit-spirit. Long ago, he was called the "Easter Hare", hares and rabbits have frequent multiple births so they became a symbol of fertility. The custom of an Easter egg hunt began because children believed that hares laid eggs in the grass. The Romans believed that "All life comes from an egg." Christians consider eggs to be "the seed of life" and so they are symbolic of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Why we dye, or color, and decorate eggs is not certain. In ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome and Persia eggs were dyed for spring festivals. In medieval Europe, beautifully decorated eggs were given as gifts.
SOURCE


The origins of the Easter Bunny probably start in Germany.  One legend says that a poor woman dyed some eggs during a famine and hid them in a nest as an Easter gift for her children.  
The rabbit itself--and the eggs he brings--are rooted in symbolism appropriate for Easter.  The rabbit has long been a symbol of fertility and birth, and eggs represent the new and renewed life that returns to the nature around easter time.
SOURCE

In England, Germany and some other countries, children rolled eggs down hills on Easter morning, a game which has been connected to the rolling away of the rock from Jesus Christ's tomb when he was resurrected. British settlers brought this custom to the New World.


So there you have it! Speaking of Easter Bunnies and eggs, we took Noah to our annual neighborhood egg hunt and Bunny viewing. Here are some pictures for you.

I know I have not been good at updating; again, pregnancies make me feel sick all the time and just drain me of all energy and drive or motivation to do just about anything. 
 For my last pregnancy, the only cure was delivery. :) Here's to a short 5 more months! Prayers are always welcomed! :)

Now, I know I'm bossy, but if I ever have the opportunity to be in charge of an easter egg hunt, I will not have 1 year olds and 12 year olds be hunting at the same time.

Noah collected three eggs though; two of which my mom found the shells of scattered on the ground (reject eggs) and put back together for Noah.  

Noah didn't care though, he loved every minute of it!

another kid's basket who was much older than Noah.

Noah did steal one of his eggs.

-we put it back.

Noah's basket...

Family photo!

Fun with Pappa on the slide afterward.

Is he gonna make me eat one of those carrots?
(click photo to make larger to see Noah's worried eyes)

***Special thanks to Sara for taking most of these pictures!