Instead of giving chocolate, Easter Bunny gives children nightmares
Photo Credit: Danielle Allen
Meeting the Easter Bunny, Bryn Ellmyer clings to her mother, Melissa Ellymer in fear while twin sister Alissa hides her face from the bunny while father, Steven Ellmyer holds her.
March 31, 2018
Easter has many traditions that America adopted centuries ago. Including the Easter bunny who brings children chocolate. However, the Easter bunny scares some children.
Easter background
The origin of the Easter bunny is still a mystery, but there are many theories of why a bunny is the symbol of Easter. The bunny is an ancient symbol of fertility and new life. Furthermore, it’s rumored that the Easter bunny came to Pennsylvania in the 1700’s by German immigrants.
Even though her mom, Goldie Lawrence, is the one little Brooklyn Lawrence trusts the most, the scary Easter Bunny has her reaching for dad to take her away from there.
Eggs also play an important role in Easter. Eggs are symbol of new life and Jesus’ resurrection. Next, the Easter Bunny is known for hiding eggs. People boil and decorate the eggs during Easter.
An English teacher from Colonia High School, Mrs. Darragh Spiewak, stated, “ I never had plastic Easter eggs as a child, I dyed the eggs on Good Friday and then the Easter bunny would hide them.” Mrs. Spiewak was a child who loved to find the hard boil Easter eggs.
Skylar Galvez, a sophomore at Colonia High School, favorite tradition is also finding hard boil eggs alongside plastic eggs.
Eggs are significant during Easter. During Lenten, season eggs could not be eaten. The effect of not eating eggs people would decorate to mark the end of fasting and penance. Lastly, they would eat the eggs on Easter.
Candy is also very popular during Easter time. Jelly beans are a very popular candy during Easter. According to history.com, over 16 billion jelly beans are made in the U.S. each year. Furthermore, the most popular non-chocolate candy during Easter is marshmallow peeps. Galvez stated her favorite Easter candy is skittles in a interview.
Even though the Easter bunny gives kids joy by bringing chocolates and hide eggs, the Easter bunny scares some children.
Is the Easter bunny scary?
Scared of the Easter Bunny, Jack Teal tries to wiggle out of his mother, Meghan Teal’s arms to evade the large bunny.
In a survey conducted through social media in March of 2018, people were asked as a child if the Easter bunny or Santa Claus scared them. 43 people answered neither. 25 people answered the Easter bunny. Eight people answered Santa Claus. Lastly, five people answered both.
Galvez stated in an interview, “I imagine (the Easter bunny) like a real bunny. I used to think that the one in the mall was creepy as a kid.”
Mrs. Spiewak stated, “ I never took a picture with the bunny at the mall. I found it weird.”
To play Santa Claus, the person needs to look the part. That’s not the case for playing the Easter bunny. Anyone can be the Easter bunny, no one needs to look the part to play the role of the Easter bunny. Not knowing who is in the Easter bunny can be scary.
