Easter is more than chocolate eggs and bunnies. It is a holiday that blends both cultural and religious symbols.
From the origins of the Easter Bunny to the meaning behind Easter eggs and lilies, this collection of fun facts will reveal some of the most interesting aspects of Easter celebrations around the world. Keep reading to discover all the fun, random details about Easter that you probably never knew!
12 Fun Fun Facts About Easter
The Easter Bunny originated as a German fertility tradition
The Easter Bunny is based on a Germanic, fertility-based tradition, and here are some fun facts about its origins. In the German tradition, he was called “Osterhase,” and he would bring colored eggs to good children. It is from this tradition that we get the association of rabbits and eggs, symbols of new life and springtime. German immigrants in the 1700s brought their Easter traditions with them, and the rest grew into our Easter celebrations.
Photo by ROMAN ODINTSOV
The oldest Easter egg tradition comes from Ukraine
The oldest Ukrainian Easter egg tradition is pysanka. In this technique, designs are outlined with wax. The tradition of pysanky dates back to pre-Christian times and is representative of rebirth. Eggs were originally associated with spring festivals before becoming part of Easter traditions. Pysanky were believed to have powers of their own and were usually placed in Easter baskets to receive special blessings for protection.
Easter Eggs represent new life
Easter eggs represent new life and spring. The tradition originally began with ancient cultures that viewed eggs as symbols of fertility. Early Christians adopted eggs to symbolize Jesus’ resurrection, with the shell representing the sealed tomb and the life inside signifying Christ’s return. Decorating and sharing eggs became a way to mark this important event within Christianity.
Photo by Nicky Pe
Easter’s date is always changing
An interesting fact about Easter Sunday is that it moves with the lunar calendar and its date changes from year to year. It falls on the Sunday after the first full moon on or after the spring equinox, which is March 21. It thus can fall between March 22 and April 25. This rule was set in 325 AD by the Council of Nicaea, a move that separated Easter from the Jewish calendar.
Italy created a 15,000-pound chocolate Easter egg
Italy created the record-breaking chocolate Easter egg in 2011. It weighed 15,873 pounds (7,200 kilograms) and stood over 34 feet (10.39 meters) tall. It was made in Cortenuova and has been included in the Guinness World Records.
This enormous egg represents Italy’s love for Easter celebrations, where large chocolate eggs are decorated and filled with various surprises.
Cadbury produces over 500 million chocolate eggs each year
Cadbury manufactures over 500 million chocolate eggs every year. The Bournville factory in Birmingham, England produces approximately 1.5 million Creme Eggs daily.
Another fun fact is that Cadbury produced the first Creme Egg in 1971. The egg has remained one of the most popular Easter eggs globally. Easter accounts for a great percentage of the chocolate consumed in the UK annually.
Photo by Meghan Rodgers on Unsplash
NYC’s Fifth Avenue hosts a famous Easter bonnet parade
The Easter Bonnet Parade in NYC takes place every year on Easter Sunday down Fifth Avenue. It started back in the 1870s when churchgoers would show off their spring attire and fancy bonnets. This parade runs from 10 AM to 4 PM, from 49th to 57th Street. Anyone can join by wearing a funny-looking bonnet, making the event enjoyable for both participants and onlookers alike.
Australians celebrate Easter with bilby instead of rabbits
In Australia, the bilby takes over for the Easter bunny and leads in the Easter theme. This tradition began in the 1990s as a way to raise awareness about the bilby’s endangered status. The bilby is a small marsupial with large ears and a pointed nose. Many companies produce chocolate bilbies, and a portion of the proceeds goes toward the conservation of the bilby population.
State of Queensland, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Easter baskets were inspired by birds’ nests in spring
Easter baskets are inspired by birds’ nests, symbolizing the themes of spring and renewal. The tradition actually first started with Dutch and German children waiting for eggs in nests. These nests symbolized new life and were to be filled with colored eggs.
As time went on, the nests became baskets in which to collect treats, combining the nest idea with Easter and the Easter Bunny hiding eggs.
Photo by Alan Rodriguez on Unsplash
Easter lilies symbolize purity and Christ’s resurrection
Easter lilies are symbols of purity and Christ’s resurrection. They are used in decorations and church services. The tradition originated in early Christian times when lilies represented new life and hope. Many people give or display Easter lilies as a way to celebrate the holiday and its themes of renewal and rebirth.
Photo by Ashlee Marie on Unsplash
Easter is the second-largest candy holiday
A delicious fun fact about Easter is that it ranks as the No. 2 biggest candy holiday of the year in the U.S., after Halloween. In 2022, people spent an estimated $2.98 billion on Easter candy. The Easter season brings in more than $5 billion in candy sales, and 92% of Americans enjoy chocolate and candy.
Popular treats like Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs and Cadbury Crème Eggs fill Easter baskets around the nation.
Picture by Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels
The Easter Bunny has a dark history
The dark truth about Easter comes from its mixed roots in Christian and pagan traditions. Symbols like the Easter egg and bunny come from ancient fertility rituals associated with the pagan goddess Eostre. Later, the Christian church absorbed pagan symbols and used them to convert non-Christians.
Easter celebrates Jesus’s resurrection, but it’s important to remember that his death and crucifixion were brutal and painful. Crucifixion was a humiliating Roman execution that left a lasting impact on witnesses, often overshadowed by the focus on the resurrection.
The dark history of Easter also refers to its links with violence and oppression. For example, in the Middle Ages, events like the Crusades were fought in the name of Christianity, with some using Easter to justify violence against non-Christians, especially Jews, leading to religious intolerance and hatred.
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