The world is preparing to celebrate the most important day in Christianity this Sunday: Easter.
The Christian holiday commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ after he was crucified by the Romans on Good Friday more than 2,000 years ago. Easter Sunday lands on a different day each year because it's based on the dates of the spring equinox and the first spring moon cycle, which usually occurs between March 21 and April 25.
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What comes to your mind when you think of Easter? Modern traditions of the holiday are associated with Easter eggs, the Easter Bunny, sweet treats and chocolate. But where did these traditions come from?
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What’s the Origin of the Easter Egg Tradition?
Easter eggs are believed to have originated in medieval Europe but may have been unrelated to any Christian tradition. Some historians believe Easter eggs came from Anglo-Saxon festivals in the spring to celebrate pagan goddess Eostre.
The goddess, who may be the namesake of Easter, represented the dawn in spring, and eggs were buried and eaten during the festival. Eggs are believed to be a symbol of fertility and the rebirth of nature after the dead of winter.
Many pagan traditions from the festival of Eostre were adopted by Christian missionaries to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, as a way to encourage conversion.
Easter eggs are often said to tie into the celebration because they represent new life, though the metaphor may have been applied retroactively.
An alternative origin links Easter eggs to fasting during Lent, when animal products couldn’t be eaten. Eggs may have been hard-boiled and stored and then eaten at the end of Lent to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.
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Why Do We Color Easter Eggs?
The tradition of dyed and decorated eggs dates back to the 13th century when nobles would exchange them as gifts. English villagers would also frequently give eggs to their church on Good Friday.
Through the religious perspective, another source argues that in Mesopotamia, early Christians dyed eggs red to mimic the blood that Jesus shed during his crucifixion.
However, the tradition of dyeing eggs originated at least some 2,500 years ago in the Trypillian culture that lived in Central Europe. Historians believe the ancient Persians, or Zoroastrians, painted eggs for Nowruz, or Persian New Year.
In the 12th century, King Edward I of England ordered 450 eggs to be colored and decorated with gold leaf to give to royal relatives during the spring season. The tradition continued a few years later when the Vatican sent Henry VIII an egg in a silver case to mark the Easter season.
An Australian Zoo is celebrating Easter by decorating the animal exhibits and welcoming in guests to join the festivities!
How Has the Easter Egg Hunt Evolved Throughout History?
The tradition of Easter egg hunts and gifting eggs to children originated in Germany in the 17th century.
As a child, Queen Victoria enjoyed egg hunts put on by her German mother, and helped popularize the tradition in Great Britain. Artificial eggs containing toys and treats began supplanting real eggs in Victorian England.
European candy manufacturers also began to make egg-shaped chocolates and candies for Easter in the 19th century.
Egg rolling also became a popular children’s activity, and the White House held its first Easter egg roll in 1878 during Rutherford Hayes’ presidency.
Even though the event has no religious significance, some have considered egg rolling symbolic of the stone blocking Jesus’ tomb being rolled away, leading to his resurrection.
How Does the Easter Bunny Fit Into the Egg Tradition?
The exact origin of the Easter Bunny remains unclear.
The tradition may have first arrived in the United States in the 17th century with German migrants who settled in Pennsylvania, adopted from the German tradition of an egg-laying hare called Ostergase or Oschter Haws.
The custom eventually spread across the country with the bunny giving out treats and gifts in decorated baskets.
FAQs
Eggs are believed to be a symbol of fertility and the rebirth of nature after the dead of winter. Many pagan traditions from the festival of Eostre were adopted by Christian missionaries to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, as a way to encourage conversion.
Why did Easter eggs become a tradition? ›
The egg itself became a symbol of the Resurrection. Just as Jesus rose from the tomb, the egg symbolized new life emerging from the eggshell. In the Orthodox tradition, eggs are painted red to symbolize the blood that Jesus shed on the cross. The egg-coloring tradition has continued even in modern secular nations.
What is the reason for the Easter egg? ›
Eggs represent new life and rebirth, and it's thought that this ancient custom became a part of Easter celebrations. In the medieval period, eating eggs was forbidden during Lent (the 40 days before Easter) so on Easter Sunday, tucking into an egg was a real treat!
What is the origin of the Easter egg in ancient cultures? ›
Ancient origins
Ancient Egyptians, Persians, Greeks, Romans and Phoenicians all celebrated spring festivals that featured decorated eggs as part of their rituals. The egg was also a popular symbol among early Christians who embraced it to represent Jesus' resurrection from his tomb on Easter Monday.
Why is Easter egg hunting a tradition? ›
Some suggest that its origins date back to the late 16th century, when the Protestant reformer Martin Luther organised egg hunts for his congregation. The men would hide the eggs for the women and children to find. This was a nod to the story of the resurrection, in which the empty tomb was discovered by women.
What does Easter have to do with Jesus? ›
Easter is an important Christian festival - it's when Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Bible says that Christ died on a cross on a day called Good Friday. According to the Bible, Jesus was then resurrected and came back to life on Easter Sunday.
What is the origin of the Easter Bunny and eggs? ›
One of the earliest mentions of the Easter Bunny can be found in German folklore dating back to the 16th century. According to German tradition, the Easter Bunny, or “Osterhase,” was believed to be a mythical creature that laid colorful eggs for children to find on Easter Sunday.
How did Easter originate? ›
The Origin of Easter
Easter actually originated as an ancient pagan celebration of the spring equinox. In Christianity, the day was dedicated to observing the resurrection of Jesus Christ, celebrated around the time of the Jewish Passover.
What does Easter symbolize? ›
Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter takes place three days after Jesus's death on Good Friday.
What is the real Easter story? ›
Easter is one of the principal holidays, or feasts, of Christianity. It marks the Resurrection of Jesus three days after his death by crucifixion. For many Christian churches, Easter is the joyful end to the Lenten season of fasting and penitence.
In the 12th century, King Edward I of England ordered 450 eggs to be colored and decorated with gold leaf to give to royal relatives during the spring season. The tradition continued a few years later when the Vatican sent Henry VIII an egg in a silver case to mark the Easter season.
Are Easter eggs a pagan tradition? ›
The origin of Easter eggs can be traced back to ancient pagan traditions and they were later incorporated into Christian celebrations. Eggs have long been associated with fertility, rebirth, and new life, but the precise origin of Easter eggs is not definitively known, and various theories and interpretations exist.
Who came up with hiding eggs for Easter? ›
To commemorate this, in the late 16th century, the Protestant reformer Martin Luther is said to have organized egg hunts for his congregation, where men would hide eggs for women and children to find. The tradition developed from its religious roots to incorporate the Easter Hare, later known as the Easter Bunny.
What do Easter eggs have to do with Jesus? ›
In the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches, Easter eggs are dyed red to represent the blood of Christ, with further symbolism being found in the hard shell of the egg symbolizing the sealed Tomb of Christ—the cracking of which symbolized his resurrection from the dead.
What is the purpose of Easter eggs? ›
The egg, an ancient symbol of new life, has been associated with pagan festivals celebrating spring. From a Christian perspective, Easter eggs are said to represent Jesus' emergence from the tomb and resurrection.
What does the Easter bunny represent in Christianity? ›
How is the Easter Bunny related to Jesus? In short: The Easter Bunny is not related to Jesus at all. At most, they're both obviously tied to the holiday celebrating the resurrection, and they're both considered symbols of new life—but the links to one another, essentially, end there.
Why do Americans celebrate Easter with eggs? ›
The bunnies, chicks and eggs are signs "new life and fertility around the spring time," O'Malley says. According to History.com, Easter eggs are also "said to represent Jesus' emergence from the tomb and resurrection."
What is the real truth behind Easter? ›
The Origin of Easter
Easter actually originated as an ancient pagan celebration of the spring equinox. In Christianity, the day was dedicated to observing the resurrection of Jesus Christ, celebrated around the time of the Jewish Passover.
What does the bunny have to do with Easter? ›
The exact origins of the Easter bunny are clouded in mystery. One theory is that the symbol of the rabbit stems from pagan tradition, specifically the festival of Eostre—a goddess of fertility whose animal symbol was a bunny. Rabbits, known for their energetic breeding, have traditionally symbolized fertility.
