We have the Germans to thank for the Easter Bunny. In Germany, the Easter Hare was said to deliver brightly painted eggs to good children, he would hide them for the children to find. This tradition finally made its way to Great Britain in the 1800s thanks to Queen Victoria or more specifically, to her mother, Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg Saalfeld. Princess Victoria was German and would organise Easter egg hunts for her children at Kensington Palace.

Chocolate eggs were first manufactured in France at the court of Louis XIV between 1643 and 1715. Eggs weren’t made in Great Britain until 1873 when they were introduced by Frys & Sons, however the cost resulted in them being an extravagance afforded only to the very wealthy. Following the Second World War the price of chocolate fell considerably, resulting in the chocolate egg becoming a treat that, at last everyone could enjoy.

The image of the Easter Bunny is more synonymous with laughing children searching in bushes and under plant pots than with the older generation and our days of running around the garden in search of chocolate or running anywhere for that matter are long gone however this week we were treated to a very special visit from the Easter Bunny, and I have to say that he is a lot taller than I’d imagined him to be.

We had so much fun, the bunny bounded in carrying his basket of eggs, almost tripping over his own feet as he bounced around the room delivering his gifts. It was quite unexpected. We spent the rest of the day being entertained by our furry friend. We had a singalong and an Easter quiz. The weather was wonderful so we were able to get outside, I can’t imagine what the neighbours must have thought.

Easter is a beautiful time of the year, a time for new beginnings and fresh starts and ours was wonderful. The sun was streaming through the windows, the golden daffodils were swaying gently in the spring breeze, and we had chocolate for breakfast. It really doesn’t get much more perfect than that.