In the Easter imagination, everything seems simple. There's an egg, it's spring and there's a bunny. The problem begins when biology enters the conversation. Because from its perspective, a rabbit and a hare are not the same animal, but two different species.
As Dr Katarzyna Majecka emphasises:
Rabbits and hares are two completely separate species. They cannot be used interchangeably in any way.
Yes, they both belong to the leporidae family and may look similar at first glance, but similarity doesn't mean identity. As the researcher notes, it's a bit like confusing a lion with a tiger. Both are felines, but no one pretends they're one and the same.
In Poland and Europe, we most often talk about two specific representatives of this family – the European hare and the European rabbit. The former is definitely closer to our landscape. It is the hare that is more often found in fields, field margins and forest edges. The wild rabbit is also present here, but much less frequently, mainly in southwestern Poland. Therefore, as Dr Majecka points out, if we see something hopping in central Poland, it will almost certainly be a hare.
Differences
A hare has very long ears and is generally larger and more powerful. A rabbit, on the other hand, has small ears, is more subtle and is smaller overall
– says the expert.
This is why, paradoxically, Easter figurines and illustrations, although commonly called hares, very often depict rabbits, because they are smaller, gentler in appearance, more plush and less wild.
Yet, when we put aside the postcards and chocolate decorations, the hare seems more Easter-like. Not only because it appears more frequently in our landscape, but also for symbolic reasons.
The hare has become a symbol precisely because it appears in spring. Even in early spring, there are little hares, and it's a symbol of rebirth, a symbol of spring
– explains Dr Majecka.
This is an important difference. Young hares do indeed appear in the open quite early and are noticeable. Young rabbits, on the other hand, remain hidden in their burrows for the first few weeks of their lives. This means that early European inhabitants were much more likely to see young hares than young rabbits during the early spring. Perhaps this is why the hare has become more deeply ingrained in the Easter symbolism of new life and the beginning of spring.
The biology of these two animals differs much more than you might think. Hares do not dig burrows. The young are born furry, with open eyes, essentially miniature versions of adults. From the outset, they are adapted to life in the wild. Their survival strategy is unusual – they remain motionless, emit no distinct scent and blend into their surroundings. The mother returns to them only once or twice a day to feed them, not wanting to attract the attention of predators. Therefore, as Dr Majecka underlines, the sight of a lonely baby hare should not prompt a person to rescue it.
Unfortunately if we take such a hare with us it has a small chance of survival
– says the researcher. She adds that its mother is almost always nearby and will return, even if it appears to humans that the leveret has been abandoned.
Rabbits spend their first weeks in hiding. When threatened, they flee into underground tunnels.
The conclusion? If we want to be follow science, we shouldn't confuse the rabbit with the hare. If we want to be follow Easter symbolism, we're closer to the hare. However, if we look at store shelves and holiday cards, we'll most often see a rabbit disguised as a hare.
Source: Dr Katarzyna Majecka, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz
Edit: Kacper Szczepaniak, Centre for Brand Communications, University of Lodz
