Which came first?

Usually, this question refers to the chicken or the egg, but this time of year, it refers to the bunny and the egg.

DocBrain's research seems to indicate that the egg came first. Eggs had long been a symbol of fertility. As animal derived, they were not allowed during Lent, and so when collected during Lent were boiled. They were eaten at Easter, a prized delicacy. Eggs are often eaten as part of the Passover meal as well.

Eggs were hidden for children to find on Easter. In Germany, a tradition developed of telling children of a magical Easter hare that laid Easter eggs that they would have to search to find. This tradition was imported to the USA.

So, the egg came first. DocBrain still does not know about the chicken.