Easter is, on the one hand, a religious holiday, on the other hand a day for children. In Germany, children can search for gifts hidden by the Easter Bunny. Most of these gifts are toys for playing outside. Sometimes the gifts are bigger, like a bicycle, roller blades, sport shoes, rackets and so on. It can be a book, too.

Although our son had not believed in the Easter Bunny for a long time, we continued to practice the ceremony of hiding a nice gift for each other each year. When our son was ten years old, something special happened.

On this Easter, in 1979, we did a bicycle-tour. I had a little book in my pocket and thought about where to hide it for my son.

Our trip was near its end, when my husband and my son rode ahead of me. Suddenly I saw a really lively rabbit jumping across the way. I shouted to my son to look and he saw him. After that I said: “This is really an Easter Bunny and he was coming from there. We have to look, perhaps he has left a gift for you.”

We went a ways into the field and suddenly my son discovered a little parcel in Easter paper. This was a book he had wanted for a long time.

What happened? Who brought this book into this meadow where the rabbit was jumping from? Nobody knew how this had happened! He didn't believe that an Easter bunny existed, but how could that be?

I shrugged. I didn't know either.

It was my secret until Easter 2006. We had to search in the garden for a gift again and after that I told him what I did many years ago.

My reaction had been quick back then. I saw the rabbit, quickly threw the book into the meadow and after that I shouted our son's name.

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