JOHNSON CITY, N.Y. -- Bunny ears and 5,000 plastic eggs took over the parking lot of United Health Services for their annual egg hunt. It's a sign of the times.

"It's a fun holiday for the children to meet and greet the bunny and have their pictures taken with him, collect all the wonderful Easter eggs with the goodies inside and it's just a happy time of year," said Linda Sebasta, the egg hunt coordinator.

The egg and the Easter bunny have become a necessary part of this holiday, but where did they come from and how did they become an integral part of Easter?

"There is the thought as far as with bunnies, in that they were so fruitful and such and springtime and the whole activity for spring and life and multiplying, it came out of a pagan society," said Pastor David Werly of the Holy Trinity Lutheran church.

The correlation is thought to be similar with eggs, a symbolism for rebirth and abundant life.

Though the church doesn't shun the eggs or the bunny, they typically use other symbols. And as Easter is a Christian holiday, their message of new life is religion-based.

"Faith through Jesus Christ gives us the victory, the victory that we find on Easter or the day of the resurrection which is of course on that Sunday. And that's what the flower represent, new life, the cross of course where sins have been paid for by God himself," said Pastor Werly.