My first source of information, of course, is my German family, followed by internet articles and other discussions in the search for a result. There is no clear answer, but many differing versions. Some lack any explanations of bunnies and eggs; others speak of Slavonic traditions, fertility rites, and spring. Bunnies and eggs are meant to represent the new season after the long winter.

Winter has definitely gone when bunnies appear. Some stories go back to ancient Egypt where there was the habit of giving away decorated eggs on special occasions. In the Christian tradition, no eggs were eaten during the Passion season. On Easter Sunday, Christians shared out eggs among the people to celebrate resurrection. This habit was meant to remember Christ's victory over death. In the course of time, other habits developed: decorated and chocolate eggs not always being related to the Christian feast.

There is one legend which I like best because it connects the Christian tradition, which connects me with my country, with the German tradition. It reads like this: A bunny happened to enter Jesus' grave. It observed the people visiting the grave before it was shut and asked itself who had been this highly respected person. On the third day, the mystery of resurrection made clear to the bunny that he had been a very special man, the son of God. So, when the bunny was free again, it wanted to spread the good news because all were to know that Jesus was alive. As the bunny was unable to speak, it decided to share out coloured eggs so that all Christians were to come to know what had happened.

The curious will certainly find other variants. Families are experts in reinventing and embellishing stories to make them more interesting. We shall see which stories our children will tell after 15 or 20 years.

Today, I feel part of a multicultural family, recognize the importance of certain traditions and want to share them with my daughter. She is to learn the traditions of this country and to relate them to the traditions with which her mother grew up. The Easter bunny feast and other feasts are excellent occasions for a cultural dialogue between different generations. Here I can bring the differences and the variety of her cultural heritage to my daughter's conscience. I would like to come even closer to parts of the German culture and to fully understand the meaning of such moments. So, bunnies and Easter eggs decorate the corners in our flat while we are awaiting the arrival of the sun.

Marita Orbegoso Alvarez

Teacher and Master of public policy Co-ordinator of "MaMis in Bewegung" (Active mums).

mar-i-pasos.blogspot.com