Has the Easter rabbit been relabelled in Germany?– DW– 04/18/2025

Every year as Easter methods, social networks fills out with furious insurance claims that firms, political leaders, organizations or people are proactively preventing words “Easter” and for that reason minimizing the conventional spiritual origins of the Christian vacation, allegedly to stay clear of annoying non-Christians

This year is no various in Germany, with an argument bursting out over the conventional delicious chocolate Easter rabbit (Osterhase) which, according to some social networks individuals, has actually been relabelled “sitting bunny” (Sitzhase) by leading grocery stores.

Have Easter rabbits been relabelled in Germany?

Claim: “The sitting bunny is forcing out the Easter bunny,” composed Johann Martel, a participant of parliament for the reactionary democratic celebration Alternative for Germany (AfD), in a post on X which has actually been checked out virtually 200,000 times. He utilized this case to reinforce the AfD’s racist and Islamaphobic system, which urges Germany is ending up being a lot more Muslim and much lessChristian

DW truth check: False.

It holds true that the German price cut grocery store chain Lidl offers one delicious chocolate bunny called a “Sitzhase” (resting rabbit) from the brand name Favorina — or at the very least it did. But it likewise offers numerous items that particularly highlight the Easter motif.

One offer that DW found online has actually considering that finished, while a comparable item on Lidl’s Swiss website has actually relatively been relabelled to “Osterhase sitzend mit Schleife” (Easter rabbit resting with bow). But the initial internet address provided in Google’s picture search recommends it was at first called a “Sitzhase mit Schleife” (resting rabbit with bow).

“Lidl describes some chocolate bunnies in Germany as ‘sitting bunnies’ in order to clearly distinguish them from other products,” the firm informed German public broadcaster ARD “Customers will also find products which use the term ‘Easter bunny.'”

Elsewhere in its Easter collection, Lidl likewise offers attractive ceramic and straw “Osterhasen” (Easter rabbits) porcelain figurines, an “Osterkranz” (Easter wreath), “Oster-Berliner” (Easter donuts), “Osterei-Pralinen” (Easter egg pralines), an “Osterstrauss” (Easter blossom arrangement), an “Osterkorb” (Easter basket), a baked “Osterhase” (Easter rabbit) bread, and a selection of delicious chocolates branded “Ostermischung” (Easter mix).

Meanwhile, competing grocery store chain Aldi not just offers a “Sitzhase” however likewise a “Stehhase” (standing rabbit). The distinction, as you might have thought, is that of the rabbits remains in a seated, bent placement, while the various other is shown standing.

Aldi likewise offers a “Kinder-Osterhase” (kids’s Easter rabbit) and “Mini-Ostereier” (mini Easter eggs) in their “Oster-Sortiment” (Easter collection), which likewise includes numerous “Oster-Süssigkeiten” (Easter sweets).

Is this a brand-new growth?

No, it’s not. Well- recognized German grocery stores and brand names have actually been making use of alternate names for delicious chocolate Easter rabbits for years.

According to its very own marketing brochure, Milka’s prominent purple “Schmunzelhase” (smiling rabbit) goes back to 1973, while the well-known “Goldhase” (gold rabbit) with a little bell around its neck from Swiss chocolatier Lindt has actually been around considering that 1952.

In truth, an advert for the allegedly questionable “Sitzhase” can be located in a regional paper in the community of Ahaus in northwestern Germany as early as April 1938.

What have delicious chocolate rabbits reached finish with Easter anyhow?

“In two weeks, it’s Easter — or is it the ‘sitting bunny’ festival?” raged one X user with over 24,500 fans, consisting of AfD leaderAlice Weidel They suggested that the Easter rabbit was connected to the Christian idea that Jesus, the child of God, was reanimated from fatality on Easter Sunday.

The rebirth of Jesus, as explained in the Bible, is among one of the most vital days in the Christian schedule. But just what have delicious chocolate rabbits reached finish with it?

Rabbits, which often tend to bring to life huge trashes in the spring, have actually long been related to fertility and brand-new life, returning to pagan and old practices, as this research by the public broadcaster BBC recommended. According to the instructional internet site History.com, which is run by the media firm A&E Television Networks, 18th century German immigrants to the United States took with them “a tradition of an egg-laying hare” which they called the “Osterhase” (Easter rabbit).

This truth check was created in partnership with German public broadcaster ARD. It was modified by Kathrin Wesolowski