The song “Here Comes Peter Cottontail” is a quintessential part of the Easter holiday for many. Its cheerful melody and simple narrative of the Easter Bunny delivering treats have become deeply ingrained in popular culture. But the story behind this classic tune and its connection to the famous TV special is richer and more fascinating than you might imagine. The Library of Congress has even highlighted the 1971 TV special Here Comes Peter Cottontail, making excerpts available from their Danny Kaye and Sylvia Fine Collection, underscoring its cultural significance. But where did Peter Cottontail actually come from, and how did he hop into our Easter celebrations through song?
From Literary Rabbit to Easter Icon: Peter Cottontail’s Origins
The name “Peter Cottontail” itself has literary roots stretching back to the early 20th century. It’s largely accepted that the moniker is inspired by two celebrated series of children’s books featuring endearing anthropomorphic animals. The first, and perhaps most influential, was the creation of Beatrix Potter. Her tales, set in an idyllic English countryside, introduced the world to Peter Rabbit. Potter’s own childhood pet rabbit, Peter Piper, lent his name to the mischievous protagonist of The Tale of Peter Rabbit, published in 1902. Adding to the familiar name, Potter also included a sibling named Cottontail in her stories. These beloved books, including The Tale of Benjamin Bunny and The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies, established the foundation for the name we all know.
Around the same time, American naturalist Thornton W. Burgess began crafting his Old Mother West Wind series. Acknowledging Potter’s influence, Burgess also featured a character named Peter Rabbit. As noted by the Thornton W. Burgess Research League, Burgess himself credited Potter for the name, stating, “When I began writing stories for my own small boy, a rabbit was already Peter and there was no changing the name…”. Burgess’s Peter Rabbit, sometimes referred to as Peter Cottontail, developed a distinct personality in books like The Adventures of Peter Cottontail (1917), where he even briefly decides “Peter Rabbit” is too ordinary and adopts the “Cottontail” surname.
The Birth of a Holiday Classic: “Here Comes Peter Cottontail” Song
By 1917, “Peter Cottontail” was already a recognized name for a fictional rabbit. However, this character wasn’t yet directly associated with the Easter Bunny tradition. This connection emerged over three decades later with the creation of the “Here Comes Peter Cottontail” song. Written in 1949 by Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins, the song depicts Peter Cottontail as the Easter Bunny, bringing baskets of treats. Melvin Shiner first recorded the song in 1950, achieving moderate success.
But it was Gene Autry, the “king of holiday songs,” who catapulted “Here Comes Peter Cottontail” to national fame. Following his earlier hits “Here Comes Santa Claus” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” Autry recorded “Here Comes Peter Cottontail.” His 1950 rendition soared to #3 on the Billboard country charts and #5 on the Hot 100, solidifying the song’s place as an Easter anthem. Autry even performed the song in the 1951 film “Hills of Utah,” further cementing its popularity.
“Here Comes Peter Cottontail” TV Special: From Song to Screen
While the “Peter Cottontail Song” established the character as the Easter Bunny, it lacked a substantial narrative for a full-fledged TV special. The inspiration for the Here Comes Peter Cottontail TV special came from a 1957 children’s book, The Easter Bunny that Overslept, by Priscilla and Otto Friedrich. Otto Friedrich, a journalist and historian, co-authored several children’s books with his wife. The Easter Bunny that Overslept provided the central plot for the beloved TV special.
Produced by Rankin/Bass, known for other holiday classics like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the Here Comes Peter Cottontail special adopted a similar formula: take a popular holiday song, develop a story around it, and use their signature stop-motion animation. Romeo Muller, who wrote their previous specials, penned the screenplay. Muller expanded on the book’s premise, adding quirky and imaginative elements. The story features Peter Cottontail (voiced by Casey Kasem) vying to become Chief Easter Bunny and facing sabotage from his rival, January Q. Irontail (Vincent Price). Danny Kaye voiced multiple roles, including Seymour Sassafras, who provides a time machine called the “yester-morrow-bile” to help Peter save Easter.
The Here Comes Peter Cottontail TV special became a cherished holiday tradition, fondly remembered by generations. Its success even led to a computer-animated sequel, Here Comes Peter Cottontail: The Movie, on its 25th anniversary. Ultimately, the enduring appeal of “Here Comes Peter Cottontail,” both the song and the special, stems from its charming characters, whimsical story, and connection to the age-old folklore of the Easter Bunny, making it a delightful part of Easter celebrations year after year.
