The Easter bunny is not just a "silly, secular rabbit" but a way to help kids understand their faith.

Easter is not about Peter Rabbit or Beatrix Potter, but rather the true meaning of the holiday.

No secular imagery such as Easter baskets, jelly beans, chocolate, bonnets, or spring flowers should be used during Lent and Easter.

The resurrection of Jesus, the foundation of Christianity, has been pushed aside or disregarded due to all of that.

Rewritten sentence: Can you recall an ad for Easter products in home decor stores that displayed a hint of the day's religious meaning?

The resurrection of the Lord is a certainty.

A bestselling author, Anthony DeStefano, is pushing back against the Easter Bunny's dominance in children's literature. He has written a new book about Jesus that centers on the holiday's religious significance. DeStefano stated, "I was tired of that silly secular rabbit stealing the spotlight on this most sacred Christian holiday."

Over 25 books for adults and children have been written by DeStefano, with his latest work, "The Story of the First Easter Bunny," being a deliberate adaptation of "that silly rabbit" to encourage children to reconsider the true meaning of Easter.

He discussed it in a recent episode of the "Lighthouse Faith" podcast.

"When dealing with secular symbols, one must exercise extreme caution to remain faithful," he stated.

"Our deepest beliefs are under constant and relentless attack."

"The ongoing culture war in our society poses a constant threat to our deeply held beliefs."

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is celebrated by millions of Christians on Easter, which marks the end of the 40-day period of Lent, a time of contemplation and abstinence.

The week leading up to Easter, known as Holy Week, begins with Palm Sunday, a celebration of Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem. However, the mood quickly shifts to grief as the power struggle between the religious authorities and the wandering preacher leads to a tragic outcome.

Jesus is betrayed, arrested, tried, and crucified. He dies and is buried.

According to the Bible, on the third day, God resurrected Jesus, overcoming death, the greatest foe of mankind, and restoring the relationship between God and humanity that had been broken since the fall in the Garden of Eden.

The challenge for parents

One of the difficulties for parents today is that children do not comprehend Easter as well as the other Christian holiday, Christmas.

The core of the Christmas story is simpler for children to understand, despite the secular culture battles surrounding Santa Claus, Frosty, and Rudolph.

A baby is born in a manger, surrounded by angels, cuddly animals, shepherds, and wise men. This story can resonate with children because they can relate to the baby's age and the characters in the story.

Easter is the reason why Christmas is celebrated. Without Easter, Christianity does not exist.

DeStefano is not a theological novice; his adult books tackle profound Christian topics such as heaven, hell, and the potency of prayer.

He is a member of the board of Priests for Life, a nonprofit organization that is strongly against abortion and promotes life, and aims to motivate priests to preach, teach, and mobilize their followers more effectively to end abortion and euthanasia.

The Easter bunny has cultural roots that appear innocent at first glance.

There's a larger cultural controversy, as parents lately have had to wrangle control of their rights from schools and even state officials.

In the 1700s, German Lutheran immigrants introduced the tradition of the Easter Hare, known as Osterhase or Oschter Haws, to America.

It was a fabled rabbit who laid colored eggs in a nest.

Eventually, the custom spread across the U.S. and encompassed chocolate, candies, and gifts.

Nests were replaced with baskets, and children left out carrots for the bunny, similar to leaving cookies and milk out for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.

DeStefano stated that church leaders do not strictly oppose secular symbols of Easter as they can add some fun to the holiday, serving as a spice rather than the main dish.

"Children are really at the forefront of the cultural [and] religious war lines here."

The issue is that they are not meant to be a complete meal on their own.

Currently, there is a significant cultural debate, with parents currently struggling to assert their authority over educational institutions and government officials.

DeStefano stated that the other side does not hesitate to use children to spread their woke agenda, making them the focal point of the cultural and religious conflict.

DeStefano views the colorfully illustrated book about the first Easter bunny as having a much more significant role than being innocuous and trivial.

"To ensure that our core religious beliefs are not diminished or compromised, it is crucial to emphasize the significance of holidays like Easter in children's catechesis."

"The First Easter Bunny Story" is available from Sophia Institute Press and can be bought at all bookstores, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

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