Rabbits and eggs were both symbols of fertility in parts of pagan Europe (eggs for obvious reasons, rabbits for the reason that some people use the phrase "they -----ed like rabbits."). Spring festivals that celebrated new life had many traditions and symbols that were meaningful to many communities, and some of these traditions continued in different form even when the 'pagan' religions themselves disappeared or went underground. It is less clear how the specifics of the kid's story came about, but like many stories (Santa, etc.) it has become much more commercialized in the 20th and 21st centuries.

While some people think it is strange that 'pagan' traditions still exist in Christian celebrations, it is very common in European Christian traditions, including many Christmas traditions, some 'Irish saints' that have Celtic predecessors, and a variety of other cases. It's not that strange and is actually very common when 'major' religions spread across culturally diverse areas; celebrations often mix traditions from multiple sources; Buddhism combined with a wide variety of local influences, for example. It's actually rarer to find an old tradition that has never changed or combined with anything.
Source(s):
Studied comparative mythology at school.

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