Easter and the Easter Bunny

Why did the Easter bunny become such a big part of our Easter celebration and why does the Easter bunny bring eggs?  One theory attributes the Easter bunny to German folklore dating back to 1682 when the Easter Hare judged the children on their good or bad behavior.

If the child was good the Easter Hare brought colored eggs and maybe candy the night before Easter.

But why eggs?  Some Orthodox churches believed in giving up the eating of eggs during Lent and the only way to preserve the eggs from spoiling was to hard boil them. The German immigrants brought these ideas with them to the United States.  The Pennsylvania Dutch children made a nest in their hat or bonnet as a place for the rabbit to leave the eggs. 

The story of the Easter bunny became popular around the world in the 1800's and remains popular to this day.