The Easter Bunny is a part of the spring holiday we know today. Like many holidays, the bunny is a mix of old traditions. In ancient times people celebrated spring as a time of renewal. They had a goddess of spring. They also associated renewal with re-birth. Rabbits were adopted as a symbol of renewal. Eventually Christian missionaries visited these same people. They came with a different message of renewal. Over time the two merged into one. Today in America the Easter Bunny is firmly associated with the spring celebration.