The Full Moon

 

Bunnies and Easter

The story of the Easter Bunny begins with the first German immigrants, who arrived in Pennsylvania in the 1700s. According to History.com, the settlers told a legend in their homeland about an "Osterhase" or "Oschter Haws"—a rabbit who laid eggs. 

German children made nests for the bunny to encourage him to leave the brightly colored treats, a custom which continued.

As the years passed, the story of the egg-laying rabbit spread and developed, with the bunny eventually dishing up a basket filled with candy, toys, and eggs.

The Bible contains no reference to the Easter Bunny. 

He has nothing to do with the supposed resurrection of Jesus. 

Instead, the rabbit's beginnings can be traced back to ancient paganism, and the deity Eostra. 

The goddess of spring, rebirth, and fertility, her icon was the rabbit.

Perhaps Christians named Easter after Eostra as a way of recognizing the symbol of the bunny.

The first Easter celebration is said to have taken place in the 2nd century, but historians believe it probably occurred earlier, as the Vernal Equinox festival in honor of Eostra transitioned into the Christian holiday. 

By the 17th century, Protestants in Europe had firmly connected rabbits and Easter, although throughout the world other animals are associated with it. 

They include the bilby, a rabbit-like marsupial in Australia, Switzerland's Easter Cuckoo, and even the Easter fox, chick, stork, and rooster in Germany.

The Easter Bunny

With so many sightings of religious deities found on toast, doors, trees and yes, even on bananas, we are happy to report the Easter bunny has finally made an appearance.

Easter Eggs

How to Dye Easter Eggs Naturally

Hard boil all eggs in advance, adding a few tablespoons of vinegar to the boiling water to prepare the shell for coloring. 

To hard boil eggs without cracking them, add cold water and eggs to a pot, making sure the water covers the eggs completely. Bring to a boil (about 12 minutes and large eggs about 15 minutes) and then transfer to a cold water bath immediately to stop the cooking process.

Next, create the dyes.

Natural Egg Dye Recipe

Ingredients

1 ½ cups water

Plant material of choice (2 tablespoons spices/powders, 4 tablespoons dried leaves/flowers, or 1 cup chopped fruit/vegetable)

1 tablespoon vinegar

Directions

• Bring water and plant material to a boil and then simmer for 10-15 minutes.
• Turn off heat.
• Strain dye into a jar or bowl and add vinegar or alum (compost the plant material).
• Add a hard boiled egg to the dye bath and let sit for minutes to hours, depending on dye and desired color.