In Germany eggs were given to children along with other Easter gifts. Eggs used for cooking where not broken, but the contents were removed by piercing the end of each egg with a needle and blowing the contents into a bowl. The hollow eggs were dyed and hung from shrubs and trees during the Easter Week. Kewl Huh.

For German children, the Oschter Haws - or Easter Bunny - was the highlight of their Easter celebrations. The Haws would arrive on Easter morningand laid coloured eggs in nests. Today, children - and adults kay - get the same ace fun from an old fashioned Easter egg hunt. Well I do anyway.


We choose Easter eggs and the bunnies and stuff because the bunny as an Easter symbol has its origins in Germany, where it was first mentioned in German writings in the 1500s - I wasent aroond then but yoo know thats wot they say *nods seriously. The first edible Easter bunnies (yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!) were made in Germany during the early 1800s. And were made of pastry and sugar - boooooo!!.

Dont worry the Easter bunny was a bit later introduced to American folklore by the German settlers who arrived in the Pennsylvania Dutch country during the 1700s. The arrival of the "Oschter Haws" was considered "childhood's greatest pleasure" next to a visit from Christ-Kindel on Christmas Eve.

The children believed that if they were good the "Oschter Haws" would lay a nest of colored eggs. The children would build their nest in a secluded place in the home, the barn or the garden. Boys would use their caps and girls their bonnets to make the nests . The use of elaborate Easter baskets would come later as the tradition of the Easter bunny spread through out the country and cocolate was invented by mr. cadbury.

Everything was handmade (eggs, squirrel, cookies, and tree arrangement) with the exception of the bunny hiding behind the vase