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Good Question: 'Reply All' To Easter Questions

By Jason DeRusha, WCCO-TV

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- On this Good Friday, a lot of us are thinking about getting ready for Easter Sunday. Jason DeRusha hits "Reply All" to Easter questions.

Emily Larson in Minneapolis asked:
What does the Bunny have to do with Easter?

The story traces to the 13th Century. Eostra was the goddess of spring and fertility, and they had feasts in her honor on the Vernal Equinox. Her symbol was a rabbit who laid eggs-- because of the animal's high ability to -- well -- fertility people.

Darlene in Eagan wondered: Why do we hide Easter Eggs?

The first story about a rabbit laying eggs and hiding them in a Garden for easter was published in 1680. By the 1700s, when German immigrants moved to Pennsylvania Dutch country, they brought that tradition here.

Speaking of Eggs: How long is it safe to keep those hard-boiled eggs?

Friend of the Good Question, nutritionist Sue Moores says you can only keep those eggs for one week!

Sue also wants you to remember the two-hour rule. If you have them sitting out, or hiding in the yard, you can only keep them out of the fridge for two hours!!

Tim from Minneapolis emailed to ask: Why do we eat ham on Easter?

Lamb would have made more sense. That's probably what Jesus ate at the Last Supper. But the ham tradition is more about timing in the days before refrigeration. Pigs would be slaughtered in the winter, then salted, smoked, and they were ready to go in spring. Ham was pretty much the main meat that was available to eat for Easter.

Toby wondered: What's the history of Peeps?

Peeps really took off in Bethlehem -- and not the one you're thinking. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

A Russian-born immigrant named Sam Born invented Peeps in a little candy shop in New York City. In 1953, he moved to Bethlehem, created a machine that mass-produced Peeps. And Shazam. Peeps took off.

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