{"id":83985,"date":"2022-04-14T13:16:40","date_gmt":"2022-04-14T17:16:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=83985"},"modified":"2022-04-14T13:17:37","modified_gmt":"2022-04-14T17:17:37","slug":"the-history-of-the-chocolate-easter-bunny","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/the-history-of-the-chocolate-easter-bunny.html","title":{"rendered":"The History of the Chocolate Easter Bunny"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction:<\/em><\/strong> In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega writes about a subject near and dear to a lot of hearts around Easter time: the chocolate bunny. Gena is a genealogist and author of the book \u201cFrom the Family Kitchen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

It\u2019s the piece-de-resistance found in the annual candy-filled, pastel-colored Easter basket. Maybe you\u2019ve even enjoyed one on occasion. What am I referring to? The much-coveted chocolate Easter bunny! Growing up, I always wanted one of those really big chocolate rabbits that were too big for the average Easter basket. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately from my parent\u2019s point of view, mine tended to be much smaller.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m sure other kids had similar dreams. Sure, candy of any kind is nice \u2013 but chocolate is great, and there\u2019s no better time to acquire a large quantity of it than at Easter. That\u2019s when all types of chocolate candies are produced, ranging from the tiny chocolate eggs wrapped in colored foil, to the larger chocolate eggs decorated in colored frosting, to the ultimate chocolate likeness, the life of the party himself: the Easter Bunny.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, Wisconsin), 8 April 2009, page 40<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Each year I buy a chocolate bunny for each of my kids and I\u2019m not alone. More than 60 million chocolate bunnies are sold each year. (1) That\u2019s a lot of candy!<\/p>\n

The Birth of the Bunny<\/strong><\/p>\n

Where did this tradition of cholate bunnies at Easter come from? The chocolate bunny was born in Germany in the 19th<\/sup> century, and eventually it made its way to America. I found \u201cchocolate rabbits\u201d mentioned in American newspapers as early as 1888, and from there the tradition took flight. In 1890, American drug store owner Robert Strochecker used a five-foot-tall chocolate bunny as an Easter promotion. (2) Imagine that! Five feet of chocolate! Customers of Theo Geisel\u2019s Woodbury, New Jersey, store in 1907 could \u2013 because they were given the opportunity to win a five-pound chocolate bunny with a 25-cent purchase.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Woodbury Daily Times (Woodbury, New Jersey), 23 March 1907, page 8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Other store owners had been using chocolate rabbits in their own Easter displays, like this one from 1896 in the window of the D. Bacon company in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Patriot (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania), 30 March 1896, page 8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Fast forward to the 20th<\/sup> century, when candy manufacturers obtained molds and started producing more chocolate bunnies, which in turn meant they became very popular, according to this 1902 newspaper article.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Grand Rapids Press (Grand Rapids, Michigan), 22 March 1902, page 11<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This article reports:<\/p>\n

\u201cTime was, and not so long since, when America imported all her Easter candy novelties from Europe \u2013 France and Germany being the chief countries from which she received her supplies.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The article goes on the explain that hundreds of employees and large candy manufacturers now make Easter-related candy in the United States. After explaining how these manufacturers make chocolate eggs, it goes on to say that chocolate rabbits and chickens are \u201csimply poured into the molds, where it remains until it is hard enough\u2026 and then placed on waxed paper to dry.\u201d Once the candy is hard it is \u201cvarnished\u201d with a coating of boiled sugar.<\/p>\n

Since the late 19th<\/sup> century, the chocolate bunny has taken pride of place in the Easter basket \u2013 except during the World War II years when chocolate and sugar were rationed.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Omaha World-Herald (Omaha, Nebraska), 12 March 1944, page 65<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How Do You Eat Them?<\/strong><\/p>\n

So, if you are lucky enough to receive a chocolate Easter bunny this year, how will you eat it? It seems obvious that you bite off the ears and the majority of people polled agree. I\u2019m sure there are those who may have a different way to devour their chocolate treat. I once recall a family member who would bite off the tail and put the bunny in the box so it appeared to be untouched.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Advocate (Baton Rouge, Louisiana), 27 March 2016, page 93<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here\u2019s Hoping Your Easter Bunny Dreams Come True<\/strong><\/p>\n

Easter candy types are plentiful. There\u2019s no doubt about it. You can take your pick from jelly beans, Peeps, and other goodies, just like your family living in 1928, who had their choice of chocolate eggs, seashells, hens and rabbits \u2013 as well as the \u201cchocolate hen and rabbit riding in a fancy cart.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
New Orleans States (New Orleans, Louisiana), 5 April 1928, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But let\u2019s face it. Chocolate bunnies rule!<\/p>\n

Happy Easter!<\/p>\n

________________<\/p>\n

(1) \u201cA History of Chocolate Bunnies,\u201d Foodimentary (https:\/\/foodimentary.com\/2012\/04\/03\/a-history-of-chocolate-bunnies\/: accessed 12 April 2019).
\n(2) \u201cA History of Chocolate Bunnies,\u201d Foodimentary (https:\/\/foodimentary.com\/2012\/04\/03\/a-history-of-chocolate-bunnies\/: accessed 12 April 2019).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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