The Easter Bunny is a folklore figure and symbol of Easter. But there has been much debate over what colour the “real” Easter Bunny is. Let’s take a look at the possible options and evidence behind the different colour theories to get to the bottom of this important question.
Traditional White Easter Bunny
The traditional image of the Easter Bunny is white. This popular image stems from old children’s stories and cartoons depicting a white rabbit or bunny hiding and delivering decorated eggs on Easter Sunday. Some key points around the traditional white Easter Bunny:
- White rabbits have long been symbols of springtime and fertility due to their ability to reproduce rapidly. The association between white rabbits and Easter likely grew out of older pagan traditions celebrating spring.
- Early 20th century pop culture helped solidify the image of a white Easter Bunny in the public imagination. Books like The Tale of Peter Rabbit and cartoons from Disney and Warner Brothers showed white, anthropomorphic rabbits around Easter.
- Most mass-produced Easter Bunny costumes, decorations and candy molds portray the Easter Bunny as white fur.
So the ubiquitous image of a white Easter Bunny stems from historic associations between rabbits, springtime and Easter combined with early 20th century pop culture influences.
The Brown Bunny Theory
In more recent decades some have claimed the Easter Bunny is actually brown or golden brown in colour. Reasons for the brown bunny theory include:
- Brown rabbits are much more common as pets and in the wild compared to purely white rabbits.
- The Eastern cottontail rabbit and European rabbit, two common species associated with spring, are brownish in colour with white tails.
- Chocolate rabbits and candy molds have helped associate Easter with brown rabbits.
- Some children’s books and cartoons have started to depict the Easter Bunny with brown or golden fur instead of white.
So the rationale is that a more realistic Easter Bunny would be based on actual brownish bunnies commonly seen in the spring rather than a purely white bunny.
Could the Easter Bunny Be Spotted?
Another take on the Easter Bunny’s true colouring is that it has spots or patterns like many real-life bunnies. Reasons a spotted or patterned Easter Bunny makes sense include:
- Many rabbit species have spots, stripes or patchy colouring like the Dutch rabbit breed.
- It would help the Easter Bunny hide among patterned eggs it delivers.
- Spots or patterns could represent chocolate drizzle or candy coatings on Easter treats.
- A mix of white, brown and black spots or patches matches the colours of milk, white and dark chocolate Easter candy.
A spotted or patched Easter Bunny could offer a more whimsical, imaginative take on the iconic figure.
The Pink Easter Bunny Tradition
Some hold that the Easter Bunny is actually pink. Reasons for a pink Easter Bunny include:
- Pink is strongly associated with many things traditionally given at Easter like candy, jelly beans, peeps, flowers, etc.
- A pink Easter Bunny fits colourful springtime imagery and the Easter palette.
- For little girls who love pink, a pink Easter Bunny helps get them excited for Easter.
- A pink bunny contrasts and complements blue Easter eggs the bunny carries.
A pink Easter Bunny builds on already strong associations between the colour and Easter themes.
| Colour | Reasons Supported |
|---|---|
| White | – Symbolic of spring and fertility – Early pop culture depictions – Common in mass-produced items |
| Brown | – More realistic colour for wild rabbits – Association with chocolate – Some modern depictions use brown |
| Spotted | – Realistic patterns for wild rabbits – Could represent candy coatings – Provides camouflage |
| Pink | – Associated with candy, flowers, etc. – Appeals to children – Colourful, fits Easter palette |
Is the Easter Bunny Even a Rabbit?
Another consideration is that the Easter Bunny is not actually a rabbit but could be a hare. Some key differences between rabbits and hares include:
- Hares are generally larger with longer ears and legs.
- Hares live solitary lives above ground while rabbits live in underground burrows in groups.
- Hares can run faster and have more endurance compared to rabbits.
Reasons the Easter Bunny could be a hare include:
- The ability to run long distances delivering eggs across the country or world in one night.
- Being above ground would make it easier to hide eggs in gardens, bushes, etc.
- Some hare species like the Arctic hare change colour with the seasons from brown in summer to white in winter, helping explain colour variations.
- Hares have longer standing associations with springtime fertility.
So a hare’s physical abilities and symbolic ties to spring make it arguably a more likely magical Easter mascot than a slower, burrowing rabbit.
Conclusion: It’s All Imaginary Fun
When examining the question of what colour the Easter Bunny really is, we find good arguments for white, brown, spotted, pink or other colourings. But ultimately, since the Easter Bunny is an imaginary figure, its appearance can be whatever we want it to be.
The Easter Bunny offers a fun way to celebrate springtime and Easter with candy, egg hunts and other traditions. The colour and depiction of the Easter Bunny gives people creative license to customize it based on preferences. There is no single right answer when imagination is involved. So whether the Easter Bunny is white, brown, pink or any other color, the real magic is the spirit of fun and imagination it brings.