The First Easter Bunny
Long ago, in a quiet woodland where the seasons turned gently and the rivers hummed lullabies to the trees, there lived a small white rabbit named Thistle. She was unlike the other rabbits, for she had a heart full of kindness and a curiosity that made her hop farther than any of her kin dared to go.
One chilly spring morning, as the last of the snow melted into the earth, Thistle came upon a small, abandoned nest. Inside, she found five tiny eggs, speckled like the morning sky. She looked around, twitching her nose—no mother bird in sight. The wind whispered through the trees, and Thistle felt a pang in her heart. The eggs would grow cold if left alone.
So, she did something no rabbit had ever done before—she gathered soft moss, tucked the eggs into her fur, and carried them home. Day and night, she kept them warm, turning them ever so gently with her paws. The other woodland creatures watched in wonder, for rabbits were not meant to care for eggs.
Then, on the first morning of true spring, the eggs trembled and cracked. One by one, tiny chicks emerged, their fluffy bodies cheeping with new life. Thistle’s heart swelled with joy as she nudged them gently, guiding them into the world.
Just then, a warm golden light flooded the clearing. From the sky descended a radiant figure—Ostara, the spirit of spring herself. She had seen Thistle’s kindness and had been deeply moved.
“You, little one, have shown great love,” Ostara said, kneeling before the rabbit. “As a gift, I grant you a blessing: every spring, you shall bring joy to the world, just as you did for these eggs. You will hide colorful eggs, symbols of life and renewal, so that children may find them and celebrate the season of rebirth.”
With that, she touched Thistle’s forehead, and the rabbit felt a strange, wonderful change. Her fur shimmered like dawn’s first light, her paws felt lighter than air, and she knew, deep in her heart, that she would carry out this duty forevermore.
And so, every year, when spring awakens the earth, the Easter Bunny—once just a small rabbit with a kind heart—hops through the world, leaving eggs filled with wonder and joy for all to find.