Who really is this long-eared character who distributes eggs on Easter Day? What does it symbolize? Where is he from? Philippe Matthey, researcher in the history of religions attached to the University of Geneva, traces its history in Point J.
“There is, strictly speaking, no true legend of the Easter Bunny. On the other hand, there are traditions and historical documents which show that, since roughly the Middle Ages, in Europe, people have associated the rabbit or the hare at Easter”, analyzes Philippe Matthey.
Furthermore, according to the researcher, it is quite possible that these traditions already existed before, because they were linked to ideas of fertility. “Easter occurs around the spring equinox, a time when animals give birth. Lambs are born. Rabbits begin to have young.”
The rabbit is an animal which, among ancient authors, for example the Greeks and Latins, is famous for its fertility. He can have many little rabbits in a very short time.
Philippe Matthey, researcher in the history of religions at the University of Geneva
“The rabbit was also a symbol of sexuality, sometimes, in certain Greek traditions,” adds the historian of religions. Thus, this symbol of fertility was later associated with the Christian festival.
In other traditions, notably Germanic, it is still other animals that bring Easter eggs. “It could be a stork, a fox, a cuckoo, or even a hen, which is still more logical!”, concludes Philippe Matthey.
What does the distribution of eggs at Easter symbolize? What’s in a chocolate bunny? In this Point J, Bastien Polli, chocolatier-confectioner at Blondel in Lausanne, gives us the secrets of producing chocolate rabbits.
Listen to the episode:
Who is really the Easter Bunny? / Le Point J / 13 min. / yesterday at 5:00 p.m.
Juliane Roncoroni and the Point J team