The hunt for eggs came first, with no association to the rabbit. As children searched for the eggs, they flushed out rabbits and thus began the stories of the rabbits leaving the eggs. Eggs were traditionally given out at the start of Spring in Egypt and Persia.
Historically, the rabbit, hare, and eggs in folklore have their basis as fertility symbols, signifying Spring and new life, and the worship of the goddess Eostre or Eastre (usually shown with the rabbit as her symbolic animal). To entertain a child, the goddess turned her favorite bird into a hare, which immediately laid colorful eggs. When the Christians moved into the pagan's territories, they decided that the custom of coloring eggs was not harmful and adapted it to their own festivities.
Christian missionaries tried to convert northern European tribes. To help make Christianity attractive, the missionaries turned pagan festivals into Christian holidays. The pagan Eastre festival occurred around the same time as the Christian celebration marking Christ's resurrection so the two celebrations blended into one, rabbit and all.
Over time, Eastre became Easter, and the symbolism changed as well. Instead of the Easter rabbit symbolizing fertility, the rabbit may symbolize an innocent, vulnerable creature that can be sacrificed, similar to the lamb. To Christians, these innocents are tokens of Christ and the sacrifice he made.
The first food Easter bunnies were made in Germany during the early 1800s and were baked pastry bunnies with sugar toppings.
When German settlers arrived in America, they brought with them the legend of "Oschter Haws", the white Easter Hare. Children behaved themselves, believing that, if they were good, Oschter Haws would lay colorful eggs (symbols of rebirth) for them in a nest the children had provided (usually their hat or bonnet, placed in the barn). By the 19th Century, the Easter Hare became the Easter Rabbit. American families would later adapt the nest tradition, using baskets, chocolate, and money. Easter itself was not widely celebrated until after the Civil War. A recent poll showed that 88 percent of adults still continue the Easter Bunny tradition.
Australia didn't have any rabbits. When European settlers came to the land, some brought rabbits with them. Later more rabbits were imported Eventually, there were so rabbits many that they became a problem.
The bilby is an endangered animal in Australia. It looks almost like a rabbit... it was decided that the Easter Bunny would retire and the Easter Bilby took the job. In Australia, you'll find chocolate Easter Bilby candy and Easter Bilby cards!

                                                       The Bunny Patrol

Most of us know The Easter Bunny cannot be in all places at once. He has a very helpful patrol of helpers . Some cook eggs, some decorate and some deliver.
The assignment for the quilters is to provide the helper patrol in squares. 4 per player. Each square must show one or more bunnies doing different stages of the
task . Below are the players who are in the patrol also.