Here’s the thing about bunnies: they breed like bunnies. That is, they have a unique biological capacity for producing lots and lots of offspring in very short order. Bunnies are members of the order lagomorpha, which includes rabbits, hares and pikas (small chubby rodents that look very much like the Pokemon Pikachu). All of these lagomorphs begin reproducing at an early age, and can produce several litters every year. Most notably, lagomorphs are capable of becoming pregnant with a second litter of offspring before they’ve even given birth to the first litter, a phenomenon known as superfetation. It’s no wonder, then, that bunnies have been symbols of fertility since ancient times.

Here’s the thing about eggs: they go bad if you don’t cook them. That is, in the days before refrigeration, folks realized that hard-boiling eggs is a good way to preserve them. During the Middle Ages, some orthodox Christians abstained from eating eggs during the fast of Lent. So it became common to boil lots and lots of eggs, creating large stores of very boring-looking white and brown hard-boiled eggs. No wonder, then, that the practice of coloring the eggs developed (red eggs to denote the blood of Christ; green eggs to herald the coming of Spring). Over time, the coloring of eggs became a complex month-long ritual, most notably in Eastern Europe.

Here’s the thing about Easter: it’s the month of the dawn goddess. That is, early Anglo-Saxons held springtime feasts in honor of their goddess of spring and fertility. In ancient German her name was Ostara; in Old English it is Eastre. As Christianity spread across Europe, the pagan Easter period was co-opted to honor the Paschal month, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. The Christians turned the festivities way down until the end of the month-long fast of Lent, but the name Easter remained.

Here’s the thing about Lutherans: they’re pretty serious folks. That is, during the Reformation, German Lutherans were very strict about keeping the lid on any frivolity during the early spring, at least until Easter Sunday. They developed a tradition (similar to Santa Claus at Christmas) where on the eve of Easter, a bunny would go house-to-house, delivering colorful eggs, but only to well-behaved, deserving children. This tradition was spread to Northern Europe, England, and later to the United States.

Over time, most of the guilt was taken out of the practice, until only the fun and frivolity remained.

And so we arrive at today’s traditional trinity: bunnies, colored eggs and springtime. It’s birth and rebirth, fasting and feasting, in a multichromatic countdown.

Hippity Hoppity Easter’s on its way.