Hoppy Easter

This is the second time I have done this post, the first time about 90% in it disappeared!

I thought I would share some rabbit pictures with you since this is Easter week I thought bunnies might be popular. There is quite a thriving population of rabbits in a nearby park. The original  rabbits either escaped captivity or were "dropped off'" at the park by their former owners.

 

I also thought it might be interesting to explore the origins of the "Easter Bunny".

"The Easter Bunny (also called the Easter Rabbit or Easter Hare) is a fantasy character depicted as a rabbit bringing Easter eggs. Originating among German Lutherans, the Easter Hare originally played the role of a judge, evaluating whether children were good or disobedient in behaviour at the start of the season of Eastertide." (Wikipedia)

 "The Easter Bunny is sometimes depicted with clothes. In legend, the creature carries colored eggs in his basket, candy and sometimes also toys to the homes of children, and as such shows similarities to Santa Claus, as they both bring gifts to children on the night before their respective holiday." (Wikipedia)

 

"The custom was first mentioned in Georg Franck von Franckenau's De ovis paschalibus (About Easter Eggs) in 1682 referring to a German tradition of an Easter Hare bringing Easter Eggs for the children." (Wikipedia)

 

"The precise origin of the ancient custom of decorating eggs is not known, although evidently the blooming of many flowers in spring coincides with the use of the fertility symbol of eggs—and eggs boiled with some flowers change their color, bringing the spring into the homes." (Wikipedia)

 "Many Christians of the Eastern Orthodox Church to this day typically dye their Easter eggs red, the color of blood, in recognition of the blood of the sacrificed Christ (and, of the renewal of life in springtime). Some also use the color green, in honor of the new foliage emerging after the long dead time of winter." (Wikipedia)

"The Ukrainian art of decorating eggs for Easter, known as pysanky, dates to ancient, pre-Christian times. Similar variants of this form of artwork is seen amongst other eastern European cultures." (Wikipedia)

"German Protestants wanted to retain the Catholic custom of eating colored eggs for Easter, but did not want to introduce their children to the Catholic rite of fasting. Eggs were forbidden to Catholics during the fast of Lent, which was the reason for the abundance of eggs at Easter time.^{"   (Wikipedia)}

 

 

 This rabbit seems to be molting its winter coat. 

 

 

 

The rabbit below seems to have lost its tail (next two pictures). I noticed it for the first time last year and here it is recently so despite the lack to a tail it seems to be doing well. 

 

 

 

Here they are getting along with a little help from friends during a snowy spell this winter:

I liked this action shot of a rabbit hopping off with a piece of celery.

 

Some of the rabbits are quite well camouflaged, but not all.

 

 

Some have to stay close to cover.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a mama rabbit watching over...

 

 

....her brood..... 

 

 

 

I apologize if this is a bit of an overdose of rabbits.

 

 

My favorite, the milk chocolate bunny!

 

 

This week I attended a painting workshop titled "Negative Painting, a Positive Approach" and this is what I did:

 

 

 

 

Thank you for stopping by, Happy Whimsy Wednesday and Hoppy Easter, until next time...

 

 

Gillian