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You know that spring is just around the corner when the Easter chocolate eggs appear in stores. But another harbinger of the season is when the search for the next Cadbury bunny begins.
The official hunt for the next bunny or cat or maybe even a hedgehog began on February 20, 2024 according to a press release from the Hershey Company. Since 2019, the company has been asking pet owners to enter their fluffy adorable fur babies into the official tryouts for the next Cadbury bunny that will appear on advertisements as well as win a cash prize.
This year, the company is putting the finalists on its Instagram page for an elimination tournament. The finalists are being posted now and the winner will be announced on March 25. May the cutest pet win!
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“The spring season is a special time for our Cadbury team, but the Cadbury Bunny Tryouts are perhaps the best part of all,” Natalie Shuntich, senior associate marketing manager at The Hershey Company, said in the press release.
“The annual competition has evolved into a moment that fans eagerly await each year, and it is an honor to engage with both Cadbury and pet lovers alike, year after year, making them a central part of our brand.”
Previous Winners
While most people would think that the Cadbury bunny should be a real bunny, the contest has been open to all pets. In 2019 and 2020, the honor went to two adorable dogs, according to Food & Wine. In 2021 the title went to a frog and last year the winner was a one-eyed rescue cat named Crash who stole the hearts of all.
According to Shuntich, the skies the limit on who can enter and who can win the coveted title. The animal contestants include a miniature horse named Sweetheart, a bearded dragon, an alpaca from Texas, a diva duck, as well as a host of adorable dogs, cats, and of course, bunnies.
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Where did the Easter bunny come from?
The Easter bunny is a whimsical gift-giving tradition, according to Country Living, but the origins are as fuzzy as a rabbits tail or tale as the case may be.
What is known is this fun tradition has its roots in Europe and crossed the Atlantic Ocean with the settlers of Colonial America. The original tradition from Germany, is about a hare called Oschter Haws who lays colorful eggs for good children.
But the hippity-hoppity-Easter Bunny didn’t appear until the 19 th century. Today the Easter Bunny has become far more embellished and elaborate with chocolate bunnies, crème filled eggs, and marshmallow peeps. The Cadbury bunny is part of a spring celebration to be enjoyed by people of all ages.
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