A little Springtime musing brought to you by lovelambie - Your one stop shop for - Handmade Funky Irish crafts, Handmade Irish knitted items, Handmade gifts for St Patricks day, Springtime and Easter, Blarney, Shamrocks, Luck of the irish, Handmade Irish cooking, Handmade Irish Cakes, Handmade Irish jewellery, Genuine Handmade Irish gifts for a modern world.
When we think of Easter and Springtime, we think of little chicks, chocolate eggs, spring lambs and of course, the Easter Bunny! Beloved of children and adults alike, the symbol of the bunny rabbit is one of fertility, of nature and of the natural cycle of rebirth.
The Easter Bunny connotation in its current form seems to have originated from German folklore. The idea of the egg-laying bunny is discussed as far back as the 1500's - combining the rabbit and hare with their rapid and incessant breeding habits with the egg laying of the birds (both springtime symbols of new beginning and fertility). The result is the egg laying, egg bringing Easter Bunny - bringing us out of the cold barren winter with a celebration of Springtime and new growth. This idea is documented in German tradition right through the 19th century and is thought to have been spread to the rest of western Europe and America through the migration of Dutch immigrants.
Dutch tradition saw children build nests for the "Ostara" (easter hare) in their hats (easter bonnets) to leave brightly coloured eggs for the good children (alot like our notion of Santa Claus). This eventually gave way to baskets, instead of nests.
In modern day Europe, the Easter Bunny brings not coloured eggs but chocolate shaped eggs wrapped in brightly coloured foil. It was a natural progression from the handpainted, hollowed out hens eggs that were given as gifts and proved extremely popular from the mid 20th century on.
If you are looking for a handmade gift for someone special this Easter, why not have a look at our Easter and Springtime inspired handmade irish Crafts
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