Spring Bunny Vs. Easter Bunny

It became a real point of contention when a Walnut Creek, California resident wrote a letter to the editor protesting the name change of the Easter bunny, which actually took place back in 2003. The news of this hit the media hard, becoming a major world news story. It's remarkable when there are horrible things going on all over the world and someone decides to make a rabbit's name change a serious issue.

This city has celebrated the Spring bunny for what is going on five years. They use it to signify their Spring egg hunts in their city parks. As far as the city knows, Michael Runzler, former newspaper reporter is the first to complain. He has a problem with the word "Easter" being taken from the bunny. I suppose he still believes in Santa Claus too.

The Spring bunny lost it's Easter title after a Jewish resident complained in 2001. She was concerned that the city was sponsoring an event linked to religion. Really, lady? Jeeze, we wouldn't want that! All over the world cities get together and have religious based events. Every year New Yorker's gather at Times Square for the lighting of a Christmas tree. Should they simply light the super large evergreen tree from now on? They would be if this lady had her say.

Let's touch base with what's really important here. The "Easter" bunny has nothing to do with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The bunny is a fertility symbol. The egg was made popular in Greece, Russia, and Eastern Europe in connection with Easter. The egg does not have anything to do with this so-called Christian holiday. These symbols all have pre-Christian roots as symbols of fertility.

The name "Easter" stems from an ancient Goddess named Eostre who was also known as Eastre. She was the Great Mother Goddess of the Saxon people in Northern Europe. There were other known Goddesses that were celebrated in the springtime. This whole Easter thing with the bunny being a mass-producer and all the eggs have everything to do with fertility and nothing to do with Jesus. Eastre is an ancient word meaning spring. Thus, Easter being placed in the spring on the calendar. Christians take numerous pagan symbols and incorporate them into their celebrations and beliefs. The Easter bunny is just another one of these things that has nothing to do with their religion.

So to Michael Runzler, you need not get too excited about your Christian holiday called Easter. This rabbit and its eggs have nothing to do with your god at all! And to the Jewish lady, make sure Passover stays under wraps. You wouldn't want anyone to think you guys are doing anything 'religious'. Shhh!