Easter Bunny

found: Wikipedia, Apr. 2, 2007(The Easter Bunny is a traditional holiday character in the form of a giving rabbit which is said to leave gifts, usually Easter baskets for children at Easter (or at springtime). It originates in Western European cultures, where it is a hare rather than a rabbit. The Easter Bunny is an example of folklore mythology which children are sometimes taught to believe. Some people don't approve of teaching of an existence of the Easter Bunny. Not everyone believes in the Easter Bunny, and many, if not most, eventually "grow out of" their belief. Other prominent examples of this are Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy.)

found: Happy Easter from Aristotle Web site, Apr. 2, 2007:Easter origins (Easter was once celebrated by giving colored eggs to children and later evolved to hiding them in the grass, where they had supposedly been laid by a hare. Children referred to this Easter mascot as the "Easter Hare," which later became known as the "Easter Bunny.")

found: Beaulieu, D. The Easter Rabbit : pagan origin, pest control, via About.com Web site, Apr. 2, 2007("Easter Rabbit" or "Easter Bunny")

found: Encyclopædia Britannica online, Apr. 2, 2007(The custom of associating a rabbit with Easter arose in Protestant areas in Europe in the 17th century but did not become common until the 19th century. The Easter rabbit was said to lay the eggs as well as decorate and hide them; Easter Bunny)

found: The Oxford dictionary of phrase and fable, via Oxford reference online, Apr. 2, 2007(Easter bunny: an imaginary rabbit said to bring gifts of Easter eggs to children at Easter, deriving (in popular folklore) from the association of the rabbit with fertility)

found: A dictionary of English folklore, via Oxford reference online, Apr. 2, 2007(under Easter eggs: The "Easter Bunny" is a recent arrival, probably due to American influence. In several German-speaking regions of European "Easter Hare" comes by night to lay eggs for which children search; the first German reference is from 1572. In America, settlers of German descent kept the tradition alive, and hence spread it to a wider American public)

found: LC database, Apr. 2, 2007(Easter bunny; Easter Bunny; Easter rabbit; Easter Rabbit; Easter rabbits)