Printable Story with Interactive Review Questions. Read and test reading comprehension online or print and use offline. For 3rd or 4th Grade and up.
The Origin of the Easter Bunny
What does a rabbit who hides eggs and candy have to do with the Christian holiday of Easter?
Long ago, even before Christianity, the people in northern Europe celebrated a springtime holiday when they honored the goddess of spring. They called this goddess "Eastre." It was believed that Eastre’s symbol on earth was a rabbit.
Later, when the people became Christian, their springtime celebration was combined with the religious one and given the English name of Easter.
There are many myths about the goddess Eastre and her rabbits. One story says that Eastre magically turned a bird into a rabbit. The rabbit began to lay colored eggs and Eastre gave away the eggs to children. Later, children believed that the Easter Bunny would leave them colored eggs if they were good, and they left out their Easter bonnets and caps for the gifts.
The idea of the Easter bunny was brought to America by German settlers who arrived during the 1700s. Germans were also the ones who made the first candy Easter bunnies. They were made of pastry and sugar. It wasn't until later in the 1800s that chocolate was used.
Long ago, who was the northern European goddess of spring? Bunny Eastre Easteria Eastre
When were chocolate Easter bunnies invented? before Christianity late 1700s late 1800s late 1800s
What is a bonnet? a basket a hat a shoe a hat
What were the first candy Easter bunnies made of? chocolate marzipan pastry and sugar pastry and sugar
What animal is linked with Eastre, the goddess of spring? frog rabbit chicken rabbit
Northern Europeans started celebrating spring since the 1700s even before Christianity when they came to America even before Christianity
How did the Easter Bunny tradition get to America? with Christopher Columbus with Christian missionaries with German settlers in the 1700s with German settlers in the 1700s
What did the goddess Eastre do with all the colored eggs? She gave them away to children. She left them on doorsteps. She made scrambled eggs. She gave them away to children.
How were the goddess Eastre's rabbits able to lay eggs? She put the rabbits in a chicken coop. She fed the rabbits bird food. She turned a bird into a rabbit who could lay colored eggs. She turned a bird into a rabbit who could lay colored eggs.
