The Easter Bunny and his colored eggs have their origin in pagan religions and their celebration of spring as a time of renewal and fertility. Eostre or Eastre was the Anglo-Saxon goddess of dawn, spring and fertility.
     The English monk and historian Bede (d. 735) recorded that Eostre had a festival lasting several days, and that this name was adopted in England for the Christian holiday of Easter, which falls on the Sunday after the full moon following the spring equinox.
     It is said that all of the animals wanted to bring gifts to honor their goddess, who was beautiful and beloved. The hare found a nest full of eggs and brought them to Eostre. To make the gift special, he first colored the eggs.