The Easter Bunny has a surprisingly deep history. Long before shopping mall photo booths and plush costumes, rabbits and hares were symbols of fertility and new life in pre-Christian traditions. Their fast breeding made them natural stand-ins for springtime renewal. German folklore took this idea further with the “Osterhase,” or Easter Hare — a judge of children’s behavior who decided who deserved treats, much like a springtime version of Santa Claus.
German immigrants brought this tradition to America in the 1700s, and it slowly took root. The earliest Easter Bunny costumes were bare-bones affairs — rabbit ears, a simple mask, or a plain white outfit. Most were homemade, and the results varied wildly. Some were charming. Others were genuinely unsettling, with blank expressions and stiff, unnatural poses.
Black and white photos from the early 20th century show children standing wide-eyed next to these early characters. Some costumes were built from cardboard or papier-mâché, and they had a haunting, rigid quality that photographs captured all too well.
As Easter grew in popularity, department stores began hiring costumed Easter Bunnies to pose for photos with children. These professional costumes were a step up — fluffy white fur, oversized paws, and even ears designed to wiggle. The experience of meeting the Easter Bunny became a seasonal ritual for families across the country.
By the 1950s and 60s, costumes grew far more detailed. Lifelike features became standard, and some suits even used early animatronics to allow movement. Television helped shape the Easter Bunny’s friendlier image, with productions like “Here Comes Peter Cottontail” cementing the character as warm and playful rather than eerie.
The photos from this era tell a different story than the earlier ones. Children smile more freely. The costumes look softer and less threatening. Families dressed in their Sunday best lined up to commemorate the holiday with a photo alongside the beloved character.
Looking back at these snapshots across the decades, the shift in costume design is striking. What started as a folk tradition became a full-blown cultural institution, one photograph at a time.
