3 photos of the Easter bunny and 3 often unknown facts

Finding the colored eggs that the Easter Bunny brings is an integral part of Easter customs. This has been great fun for children for several centuries. Real bunnies often act as Easter bunnies in photos. But rabbits are also often photographed as such.

Easter bunnies as a symbol of fertility

Brown hares have been a typical symbol of fertility for centuries. This arises from the real fact that rabbits are extremely reproductive animals. Three to four litters a year with up to five baby bunnies each are not uncommon. In ancient times, this made them a symbol of vitality and, at the same time, a symbol of the newly awakening life in spring.

Eggs are still considered a symbol of fertility in the Christian religion. They reflect the everlasting return of life. A new chick hatches from every egg and every hen lays new eggs over and over again, from which new life arises.

In Christianity, the process of hatching is also a symbol of the resurrection of Jesus. You are certainly familiar with the Bible story in which Jesus was to find his final resting place in a rock tomb after his crucifixion. That with one stone locked grave was found empty on the third day. The chick breaking through the eggshell symbolizes the opening of the grave.

But how does the hare get to the Easter egg? The origin of the hare as a bearer of colored eggs Easter has not yet been clearly clarified by scientists. However, sources report as early as the 17th Century of the Easter bunny hiding eggs. This is justified as a fable that brings a lot of joy, especially to children.

You can probably find the connection between the rabbit and the egg in the fact that both are traditional symbols of fertility. Another explanation is that rabbits venture close to humans to forage. They poach in gardens, meadows and fields. This gave rise to the idea that he would bring the eggs at Easter and hide them where he would otherwise look for food.

Loved at Easter, otherwise hunted

The brown hare, which is loved at Easter, is the target of many hunters. Several 100,000 animals are shot every year. Due to its high rate of reproduction, it has always been a symbol of pure vitality. This made it a popular target for hunters even in ancient times.

Rabbits are pregnant around January each year. Since they throw several times a year, the pregnant time extends into autumn. Only in the cold winter months there are no offspring. As a hunter, you are not allowed to hunt potentially pregnant animals.

Just like other wild animals, hares are therefore subject to a closed season. The closed seasons can vary slightly from state to state. However, the hunt for hares is generally limited to the period from October to the beginning of the year. This also ensures that no parent animals are shot down, which are necessary to raise their young.

In photos, hares are often rabbits

According to tradition, the Easter bunny hides eggs that he has painted himself in the gardens and houses of families with children. For many, he is the counterpart to St. Nicholas. But in photos, the typical bunnies are often replaced by cute rabbits. You can easily differentiate between the two on the basis of various characteristics:

In terms of body size, (field) hares are much larger and slimmer in silhouette than rabbits. Their physique is compact and rather rounded in silhouette. Also, pay attention to the ears. While they are very large and elongated in rabbits, rabbits have much smaller ears.

If you have a rabbit as a pet, you know that there should be at least two animals kept as they are pack animals. It is completely different with rabbits. They are characterized by their loneliness and only find each other to mate.

Both are herbivores, but their favorite foods are different. Watch rabbits eat grass, grass and vegetables. On the other hand, the menu of rabbits includes hard-to-chew bark, twigs, shoots of plants and the like.

Perhaps you feel the same way: Many people find the little rabbits much cuter than their big rabbit relatives. Sweet pictures of the balls of fur inspire young and old. So it is not surprising that in photos the Easter bunny is often actually a rabbit.