In Germany, they have Osterhasen , the Easter hares.

Not quite the same as rabbits (which we also have, though less destructive than their English cousins), these mythical hares are known not just for bringing Easter eggs, but for hiding them!

If you had a garden, eggs might be tucked into the grass or hidden among the bushes. In apartments or city flats, the hunt moved indoors beneath cushions, behind curtains, in every conceivable nook and cranny. This was the Easter Egg Hunt. But not before Sunday morning, and certainly not before church.

Easter in Europe heralds the arrival of spring, trees budding, animals birthing, and the world slowly waking in colour and sound. Children sensed this renewal and were drawn into its playful rituals.

One of the most beloved Easter traditions in Germany was the tale of Die Häschenschule , The School for Hares. 

I knew Die Häschenschule so well that when my mother enrolled me in school, I recited the entire story to the astonished headmistress. Though I was a little younger than the usual entry age, she accepted me and I was so proud. To this day, the story of the school for hares connects to the wonder of childhood, the turning of seasons, and the gentle wisdom of traditions that renew themselves each spring. -Gertrud

Published in the 1920s, this picture book was a staple on many bookshelves. Each page held a full illustration, accompanied by a simple verse that was quickly learned by heart. The story was especially poignant because Easter also marked the start of the school year for many children. In the book, young hares, dressed as schoolchildren sat obediently in rows, learning how to paint Easter eggs. They clumsily held their paintbrushes, and there is a memory of feeling deeply for the little hare-girl who accidentally broke her raw egg, its contents spreading across the bench.

Of course, the children knew real Easter eggs were chocolate, often filled with marzipan or other treats. Still, sometimes painted hard-boiled eggs were arranged in a nest on the Easter table. But the true excitement was always the hunt, for chocolate eggs, hidden in the garden or nestled among the furnishings.