"Bawk! Bawk!" Is Cute...But for Easter??

My very favorite Easter commercial. Twenty-nine years after M&Ms first debuted this commercial, I can't think of Easter without thinking, "Thank you Easter Bunny...bawk! bawk!" Thanks, YouTube, for making it possible to share my memory.

Happy Easter everyone...BAWK! BAWK!

Have a very Happy Easter (or Passover)
Remember the reason we celebrate today

(Although I had no clue why bunnies laying eggs
has anything to do with Easter...until now)

The Story Behind the Easter Bunny
by Lindsay Johnson

The Easter Bunny has become a classic, cultural symbol of Easter, but according to historians, it did not start out as a Christian symbol. So, what’s the story behind the Easter Bunny?

The rabbit is a symbol of fertility and reproduction. Because of their rapid reproductive process, rabbits were seen as having special powers to help humans reproduce.

As many know, spring is a time of rebirth and renewal, so it is not surprising Easter also comes in spring. Along with being a time of rebirth, spring is also seen as a time of fertility.

The first mention of the rabbit during Easter was in Germany in the 15th century, it also the first place to make chocolate rabbits in celebration.
Before long, the Easter Bunny stopped being just a symbol and actually became a living being, bringing chocolate and candies to “good children.” The Easter Bunny became a sort of Santa Claus figure.

Children would hide their Easter baskets around their homes, and it was believed the Easter Bunny came and filled them. In the old days, boys’ baskets were made from caps, and the girls’ baskets were made from bonnets. It was not until the tradition grew more popular that elaborate baskets started to be made.

Easter eggs were seen as a symbol of new life, such as a chick hatching from an egg. This is why the chick is another symbol of Easter today. In Eastern Christianity, eggs were allowed to be eaten during Lent because they were considered “dairy.” Because of this, eggs were seen as a prized possession or a present, therefore giving special association to eggs during the Easter holiday.

Today, Easter eggs are not so much eaten but decorated to celebrate the holiday. They were originally painted in bright colors to symbolize the light of spring and rebirth. This tradition is still practiced today.

Now, in addition to dyeing eggs, we have chocolate eggs and bunnies covered in bright foil as a symbol of Easter. These candies and sometimes even the eggs themselves are used as Easter games. Parents would hide these around the house for their children to find on Easter morning, yet another connection between the Christian holidays of Easter and Christmas.

Easter is this Sunday, so don’t forget the chocolate bunnies and eggs when visiting family. Keep the tradition going!