Rabbits and Easter
Rabbits have long been associated with Easter. There are several variations of the story of the origins of the Easter Rabbit, or perhaps more correctly, the Easter Hare. The hare was was associated with the Pagan festival celebrating the goddess Eostre, from which the word Easter is derived. Eostre's earthly symbol was the hare or rabbit. The hare is also symbolically associated with the moon and therefore may have indirectly become associated with Easter since the date of Easter is determined by the phases of the moon (the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring Equinox, March 21).
Easter Also Means an Increase in Homeless Rabbits
Sadly, every year after Easter, shelters and rescues get an influx of rabbits and bunnies that were impulsively purchased as Easter gifts. Unfortunately this
gift is all too often poorly researched, and as the rabbit grows the novelty
wears thin. The House Rabbit Society has an education campaign about
Rabbits
and Easter - strongly worded but important. Rabbits do make wonderful
pets, but they are not easy, low maintenance pets. Properly prepared
and educated owners will certainly get years of pleasure from their pets.
And, if a rabbit is the pet for you, please consider taking in one that
has found its way into a shelter or rescue. For information about caring for pet rabbits, see the Rabbit Care Guide
With the serious message delivered, we can get on with the rabbit fun:
Photos and Clip Art
- Rabbit Photo Gallery - photos of bunnies submitted by readers of this site.
- Rabbit and Bunny Clip Art - a vast collection of rabbit related clip art sites from About Clip Art.
- Easter Clip Art- from About Clip Art - much more than bunnies here but if you are looking for Easter bunny art, this collection of links is the place to start.
- Bunny Bytes: Outfitters of the Urban Rabbit - great online store for rabbit fans, with everything from everyday rabbit supplies to items and art featuring rabbits.
- The Busy Bunny - gifts and treats for bunnies, and gifts for their owners too!
- Leith Petwerks - a wonderful collection of excellent rabbit cages and other supplies as well as fun rabbit boutique with rabbit related items.
- The Adventures of Tiny R, House Bunny - by Betty Ann Cassano - diary of life with Tiny R that gives and entertaining depiction of life with a house rabbit. Don't miss the limerick section!
- The Velveteen Rabbit - by Margery Williams - online version of this classic, one of my own childhood favorites!
- Rabbit Names - browse through a list of rabbit names visitors have submitted.
- Rabbit Quiz - a short quiz on basic rabbit facts and care.
- Bunniest Home Snapshots - cute pictures with even cuter captions, courtesy the House Rabbit Society.
- Rabbit Lists - bunny occupations, nicknames, sounds, and verbs, from the House Rabbit Society.