The History of Easter: Origins, Eggs and Traditions

For Christians, Easter is the most important festival of the year, marking the resurrection of Jesus. For many families it's also a time for eggs, spring meals and chocolate. How did all of this come together? Here's a short history of the holiday and its traditions.

The religious roots

Easter is celebrated on the third day after Good Friday, remembering the Christian belief that Jesus rose from the dead. It comes at the end of Lent, a period of fasting and reflection, and begins with Holy Week, which includes Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

Why the date changes every year

Easter is a "movable feast." In the fourth century the early Church agreed that it would fall on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the spring equinox. That's why it can land anywhere between late March and late April. Western and Eastern Christian churches use different calendars, so their Easters often fall on different days.

Where did the name come from?

The English word "Easter" is often linked to a spring festival or goddess named Eostre, mentioned by the medieval writer Bede, though historians debate how much is known. In many other languages the word comes from "Pascha," from the Hebrew word for Passover.

The story of Easter eggs

Eggs are an old symbol of new life, long before Christianity. Early Christians adopted the egg to represent the empty tomb and the resurrection. Eggs were forbidden food during Lent, so people saved them, and eating them again at Easter was a joyful moment.

Dyeing and decorating

Dyeing eggs, often red to symbolise the blood of Christ, became a tradition in many Orthodox communities. Over time families decorated them with patterns, and elaborate versions were made for royalty. Egg hunts, rolling eggs down hills and games like egg tapping are all part of the fun today.

Eggs as gifts

Giving decorated eggs at Easter goes back centuries. Making them from chocolate was a nineteenth-century development: the first chocolate eggs appeared in Europe in the 1800s, and the British company Fry's is credited with making a chocolate Easter egg in 1873.

Cadbury Easter eggs

Cadbury produced its first Easter eggs in 1875, and chocolate eggs became a big part of the British Easter. Today, branded eggs and egg hunts are a major tradition in many countries. If you'd like quotes and messages to share, see these Easter quotes and these ideas for Cadbury Easter eggs messages, or the best Easter Sunday quotes and wishes.

The Easter bunny

The Easter bunny is thought to come from German folklore, where a hare called Osterhase left coloured eggs for good children. German immigrants brought the tradition to America in the 1700s, and children began making nests for the bunny to fill. Rabbits and hares are symbols of fertility and spring, which fits the season.

Other Easter customs

Tradition	Meaning
Easter Sunday church service	Celebrates the resurrection
Hot cross buns	Eaten on Good Friday in many countries, marked with a cross
Easter lilies and spring flowers	Symbols of new life
Easter parades and bonnets	Dressing in new clothes for spring and renewal
Family lunch	Marks the end of Lent fasting

Easter blends faith, springtime and family traditions, which is why it means something different to different people. Whether you attend church, hunt for eggs or simply enjoy a day with family, it's a holiday built around renewal.