At the beginning of the 21st Century monsters still roam the remote, and sometimes not so remote, corners of our planet. It is our job to search for them. The Centre for Fortean Zoology [CFZ] is - we believe - the largest professional, scientific and full-time organisation in the world dedicated to cryptozoology - the study of unknown animals. Since 1992 the CFZ has carried out an unparalleled programme of research and investigation all over the world. Since 2009 we have been running the increasingly popular CFZ Blog Network, and although there has been an American branch of the CFZ for over ten years now, it is only now that it has a dedicated blog.
EASTER BUNNY
You're getting a short blog today, as it's Easter. The animal most associated in the American mind with this festival is the Easter Bunny. This started out in Germany as the Easter Hare (Osterhase) and was brought to the United States by German immigrants. In fact, in the United States the word rabbit is often applied to hares. In one location in Germany, the Easter Fox replaced the Easter hare. I hope the former didn't eat the latter.
In Australia the bilby (Macrotis) has replaced the Easter Bunny as the Easter Bilby, which has appeared in chocolate form and in books. It is a native Australian animal.
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| Bilby |
Incidentally, in parts of Europe men beat their wives on Easter Monday and women their husbands on the following Tuesday. Birch branches are often used. The idea is that this will increase fertility.
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