The Golden Bunny ...

For this week's Sunday Challenge for which the topic was symbols of Easter.

I took this shot on Good Friday whilst visiting RHS Garden Harlow Carr in Harrogate on what proved to be the first day of the Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt.

The classic Lindt Gold Bunny is, according to the official Lindt website at least, one of the most iconic symbols of Easter and he first opened his eyes to the world of chocolate in 1952.

The story goes that on a bright Spring morning in March that year, when the ground was still covered with a blanket of crisp white snow, one of the Lindt Maîtres Chocolatiers saw a little bunny in his garden. His young daughter was completely mesmerised when she herself saw the little bunny, but began to cry as soon as it disappeared into the bushes.

Deeply touched by how upset his daughter was, the father suddenly had a great idea ... he would make a bunny like the one they saw together, but out of chocolate. So he did exactly that using the finest Lindt milk chocolate, then he wrapped it in golden foil and put a red ribbon with a bell around its neck, so it would not get lost.

And so, the very first Gold Bunny was born.

Nowadays the Lindt Gold Bunny is supposedly adored by people of all ages and all over the world and every year when the it appears again, they know that Easter is not far away.

However, as nice as the Lindt Gold Bunny is many would argue that it's just another example of how over recent years traditional festivals like Easter have been exploited for commercial gain.

Gone are the days it seems when all a child needed to enjoy their Easter was to hand paint a boiled egg and then roll it down the nearest hill.

Oh, and in case you're wondering the Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt is an event aimed mainly at children. Each is given a leaflet with a map inside so that they can follow the Lindt Bunny's trail, answer a set of questions, hand in their answers at the Gift Shop and then take collection of their very own "delicious Lindt chocolate treat".

Please view on black for best effect.