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"Bunnies Don't Even Lay Eggs" - Isla Nelson

Did you know that celebrating with bunnies, chicks, painted eggs and egg hunts this time of year might not be as strange as first appears... and it is all thanks to the fox!

In Germany until the mid-20th Century, it was the #Osterfuchs or 'Easter Fox' that dominated Easter tradition and not the Easter bunny that we all know today.

"The children prepared a nest of moss and hay for the fox the day before Easter and made sure that the fox would not be disturbed at night." - Wiki, Osterfuchs

Knowing fox parents have hungry mouths to feed over early spring, it is wise to keep small prey animals such as poultry and rabbits locked up safe around Easter time (where they cannot disturb the fox). It was also recorded in the stories of the time, that the eggs were placed by the Easter fox and not by the Easter bunny.

The ancient tradition of the 'Easter Egg Tree' also existed at the time (symbolising life, spring and rebirth) and foxes love nothing more than a challenge and a good egg. It would make sense that hungry fox parents would steal and cache the painted eggs off these bountiful trees, ready for the children to then find again in the morning, in what may have been the very first 'Easter Egg Hunts'.

Natural cycles have always been woven into our traditions and some of the meaning can be lost over time. Finally knowing about the Easter fox, it seems these odd Easter traditions suddenly make sense, don't you agree?

Available as a one-off special edition canvas print (gallery pick) at blackfoxes.co.uk

Support the foxes foreverfoxy.co.uk

Description

"Bunnies Don't Even Lay Eggs" - Isla Nelson

Did you know that celebrating with bunnies, chicks, painted eggs and egg hunts this time of year might not be as strange as first appears... and it is all thanks to the fox!

In Germany until the mid-20th Century, it was the #Osterfuchs or 'Easter Fox' that dominated Easter tradition and not the Easter bunny that we all know today.

"The children prepared a nest of moss and hay for the fox the day before Easter and made sure that the fox would not be disturbed at night." - Wiki, Osterfuchs

Knowing fox parents have hungry mouths to feed over early spring, it is wise to keep small prey animals such as poultry and rabbits locked up safe around Easter time (where they cannot disturb the fox). It was also recorded in the stories of the time, that the eggs were placed by the Easter fox and not by the Easter bunny.

The ancient tradition of the 'Easter Egg Tree' also existed at the time (symbolising life, spring and rebirth) and foxes love nothing more than a challenge and a good egg. It would make sense that hungry fox parents would steal and cache the painted eggs off these bountiful trees, ready for the children to then find again in the morning, in what may have been the very first 'Easter Egg Hunts'.

Natural cycles have always been woven into our traditions and some of the meaning can be lost over time. Finally knowing about the Easter fox, it seems these odd Easter traditions suddenly make sense, don't you agree?

Available as a one-off special edition canvas print (gallery pick) at blackfoxes.co.uk

Support the foxes foreverfoxy.co.uk