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The Easter Bunny is a symbolic rabbit or hare, usually in depictions, used in the celebrations of Easter -- especially in Western European cultures.
Alleged pre-Christian origin
The word "Easter" is sometimes said to have originated from the name of a pre-Christian goddess named Eostre, drawing on an isolated remark by the medieval English historian Bede to that effect; it is also alleged that she was sometimes depicted with a hare's head and is thus the origin of the Easter Bunny. Her associations with the hare -- if they exist -- seem to be related to its high fecundity (ability to reproduce quickly). Her connections with the hare would appear to be the origin of the Easter Bunny, eggs being a worldwide symbol of fertility. A story is told that the goddess turned her pet bird into a rabbit to entertain some children. The rabbit immediately laid some brightly colored eggs, which the goddess gave to the children.
It is important to note that apart from Bede's isolated comment, no pre-19th century source has, to date, been brought to light for this story or any other alleged connections between Eostre and other Easter customs. See Eostre for more on this.
Modern history
The idea of an egg laying rabbit came to the United States in the 1700s. German immigrants in the Pennsylvania Dutch area told their children about the "Osterhase" (also: "Oschter Haws") or Easter Bunny.
Only the good children received gifts of coloured eggs in the nests that they had made in their caps and bonnets before Easter. Presumably, the Oschter Haws laid them when they were not looking.
In the United States, the Easter Bunny purportedly leaves baskets of treats (including Easter eggs and assorted chocolates) on Easter morning for good children. This is a common practice even in non-Christian households, as Easter has started to become a more non-sectarian festival, like Halloween or Valentine's Day.
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