Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; ... 2 Corinthians 6:17
One theory
is that the symbol of the rabbit stems from pagan tradition,
specifically the festival of Eostre—a goddess of fertility whose animal
symbol was a bunny. Rabbits, known for their energetic breeding, have
traditionally symbolized fertility.
According to some sources, the Easter bunny first arrived in Americain
the 1700s with German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania and
transported their tradition of an egg-laying hare called “Osterhase” or
“Oschter Haws.”
---Their children made nests in which this creature could
lay its colored eggs.
---Eventually, the custom spread across the U.S. and
the fabled rabbit’s Easter morning deliveries expanded to include
chocolate and other types of candy and gifts, while decorated baskets
replaced nests.
---Additionally, children often left out carrots for the
bunny in case he got hungry from all his hopping."
Time