The true meaning of Easter can get lost in the traditions surrounding the Easter Bunny. You may recall at Christmas time, I shared a Christian children’s book that connected Santa Claus to the true meaning of Christmas. Therefore, today, I want to share another book by Christian Children’s Author Valerie Fentress. This heartwarming picture book connects the Easter Bunny to the true meaning of Easter. An Easter Bunny’s Tale is a unique and uplifting story of a little rabbit who follows Jesus through the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection, bringing a new perspective on this beloved holiday tradition.

Read more: How to Celebrate the True Meaning of Easter with the Easter Bunny

The Symbolism of the Easter Bunny

In exploring the symbolism of the Easter Bunny, we can unravel a story that goes beyond just delivering colorful eggs and treats. Easter was originally a pagan holiday that celebrated the goddess of fertility and Spring. The goddess was named Ostara or Easter. Likewise, rabbits were symbols of fertility and new life. On the book’s last page, Fentress explains that the Easter Bunny arrived in American traditions as far back as the 1700s when German immigrants brought their tradition of an egg-laying hare called Osterhase. Children would make nests where this creature could lay its colorful eggs.

As people became Christ-followers, their holidays changed from celebrating pagan goddesses to celebrating the one true God, Jesus Christ. New life was no longer just a Springtime celebration. Consequently, Christians transformed Easter into a time when we would recognize Jesus’s resurrection and celebrate their new life in Christ. Even though the holiday had a new meaning, the Easter Bunny and colored eggs remained a part of the American celebration. Connecting Jesus to the Easter Bunny might seem like a stretch. However, Valerie Fentress does a magnificent job in An Easter Bunny’s Tale.

Exploring the Journey of a Little Rabbit

The story begins with a rabbit telling a tale of how “everything changed.” It started when the little rabbit was nibbling on the leaves of an olive tree when she heard the voice of God call out, “Thy will be done.” She follows Him as He is taken away by soldiers and presented to a crowd who yells for Him to be crucified. Frightened, the little rabbit runs to a garden and hides in a cave. Eventually, a body is brought into the cave, and a large boulder is rolled in front. For three days, the little rabbit sat in the dark until light burst from the body and was rescued by nail-pierced hands. Jesus tells the bunny to go and share the good news.

Connecting the Easter Bunny to Jesus’ Story

This book is a great way to introduce a deeper meaning to the traditional Easter Bunny. We can now see the Easter Bunny as more than a holiday figure delivering baskets and hiding colored eggs. Our children can see a character sharing the remarkable story of Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection with others. Likewise, they will be encouraged to share Jesus with their friends and family, too.

Conclusion

By embracing the message of An Easter Bunny’s Tale alongside the biblical account of Jesus, we can find a way to share the true meaning of Easter amongst the traditions our culture surrounds our children with.

Dawn Stephens

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