The Easter Bunny: first appears in German traditions as early as 1682.  The Easter Bunny had similarities to Santa Clause, bringing colored eggs and candy to good children at Eastertide.

 

In Medieval Church Art: The rabbit is sometimes associated with the Virgin Mary.  It was believed that rabbits, like the Virgin Mary, could give virgin birth.

 Note the tiny rabbit in Mary’s pocket in the image to the right. 

Rabbits are often seen in art as a a symbol of fertility, since they give birth to large litters.

 

Did you know that female rabbits can conceive while still pregnant?  The egg is also seen as fertility symbol, so it is easy to see why the two were linked together.  In addition springtime is a time of new births.   

Eggs were often a custom to give up for lint. In the past the only way to preserve them was to boil them. They were served on Easter and decorated as part of the celebration. Often the eggs were dyed red- for the blood of Christ or dyed green in honor of springtime.