The Catholic Defender: Easter at the Military Commisary in Huntsville Alabama

What a joy it was to brighten up so many children as we celebrated Easter Sunday for families that brought their children on base for Easter Services that came by the Commisary I was commissioned to serve as the Easter Bunny

The tradition of the Easter Bunny and egg hunts grew from a blend of ancient folklore, practical Lenten habits, and religious symbolism. While the modern version is largely a cheerful, candy-filled celebration, its roots stretch back centuries to Germanic traditions.

The Easter Bunny's earliest ancestor is the "Osterhase" (Easter Hare), first mentioned in German writings in 1682

The Judge of Children: Originally, the Easter Hare acted as a judge, deciding if children were well-behaved or disobedient before bringing them gifts.

Parents loved it as did my co-workers who really enjoyed the excitement.

For me, the bunny as a symbol of new lifegave meaning to the fun the children had and the gifts that I was blessed to hand out.

Journey to America: German immigrants brought the tradition of the "Oschter Haws" to Pennsylvania in the 1700s. Children would make "nests" for the bunny to lay its colored eggs, which eventually evolved into the modern Easter basket.

Eggs have symbolized new life for thousands of years, used by ancient Romans and Persians in spring festivals long before the Christian era.

Christian Repurposing: Early Christians adopted the egg as a metaphor for Jesus' resurrection—the hard shell represented the sealed tomb, and the cracking of the shell symbolized emerging into new life.

Lenten Fasting: During the 40 days of Lent, eating eggs was forbidden. Because chickens continued laying, people would boil and decorate these "Holy Week" eggs to preserve them until the feast on Easter Sunday.

Royal Traditions: In 1290, King Edward I of England ordered 450 eggs to be decorated with gold leaf and colors as royal gifts, helping popularize the practice among the nobility.

The structured "hunt" for eggs is believed to have originated in 16th-century Germany.

Martin Luther: Some historians credit the Protestant reformer with organizing egg hunts where men hid eggs for women and children to find, mirroring the story of the women discovering the empty tomb.

Victorian Popularization: Queen Victoria, who enjoyed egg hunts as a child organized by her German-born mother, helped make the custom a standard part of British and American culture during the 19th century.

Modern Hunts: By the 20th century, the activity shifted from a symbolic religious reenactment to a major community social event, with chocolate eggs introduced by European confectioners in the late 1800s.

During the 2026 White House Easter Egg Roll on April 6, President Donald Trump hosted the annual event alongside First Lady Melania Trump and a costumed Easter Bunny. The occasion gained significant attention for the surreal juxtaposition of festive holiday traditions and serious political discourse.

Official Hosting: President Trump and the First Lady addressed thousands of families from the Blue Room balcony before joining the activities on the South Lawn.

Egg Rolling: The President wove through a crowd of children to referee the traditional ritual of pushing colorful hard-boiled eggs with wooden spoons.

First Lady Participation: Melania Trump read the children's classic "The Runaway Bunny" to young guests in the Rose Garden.

To be honest, I think I was a better Easter Bunny! The important thing is that all had a great time!

John Benko during this same time period, he acted like the Enemy of the

Easter Bunny, Foxes, coyotes, wolves, badgers, and members of the cat family like bobcats, lynxes, and mountain lions. Smaller carnivores like weasels, stoats, and ferrets are also significant threats.

Instinctively defending an area to secure resources and mates, such as a tiger patrolling its range. John Benko continues to be the bully on the Internet searching to mock and be outragious