“The best gift at Easter is hope.”
We do not have very clear memories of when the story of the Easter Bunny appeared in Bulgaria.
The fact is that in our childhood it did not exist.
We checked the idea on the Internet. And there is no unequivocal and specific opinion. According to some traditions, it is a symbol of the Christian faith. The bunny takes part in some biblical scenes around Mary (the mother of Jesus). Other legends connect the image of the Easter bunny with the fertility goddess Eostra.
And in fact, our story about the Easter Bunny is related to a family trip to Austria.
More than 10 years ago we took a car trip to the Czech Republic. We took a few days to tour Vienna as well. We wanted to take the kids to the Pratera amusement park. Along with it, we decided to see other sights. We wanted to go to the zoo, which is located in the woods of Schonbrunn Castle. But in the car navigation we entered only “Schonbrunn”. It turned out that there is such or a similar 😊 settlement around Vienna. We came across a small picturesque village, like from a fairy tale. All the trees were decorated with colorful Easter eggs in different sizes. Just like Christmas trees. In front of the front doors of the houses there were arrangements of straw, bunnies, and straw baskets. I tried to take pictures from the car, but people got out and started fighting. Apparently we looked suspicious to them and they were angry that we were photographing their houses.
It was magical. We were like Alice in Wonderland.
We learned that the legend says that hours before the Resurrection of Christ, the Easter Bunny roams the courtyards. He leaves patterned eggs in pre-decorated Easter baskets. Sometimes the bunny hides the colorful eggs in the garden around the house and the children have to find them themselves.
Already the same year, we implemented the idea in the courtyard of Villa Topi. The first preserved photos we find are from 2011. Since then, on Sunday morning, when the children wake up, they rush to the yard to find their prizes.
Sometimes the Easter loan left them
real Easter eggs, but most often find chocolate figurines of bunnies, chicks and eggs. Again prizes for the most obedient children. The euphoria and emotion surrounding their discovery is great. There are also angry ones. Some things don’t change over time.