Easter is a time where friends and families get together and enjoy different traditions. Like Christmas, Easter too has accumulated many traditions which are mostly derived from folk customs and with some variations, and it is celebrated with much enthusiasm across the globe.
The widely popular painted and decorated Easter eggs trace their history back to the 13th century. It is said that the church prohibited the eating of eggs during Holy Week, but chickens continued to lay eggs during that week, and the notion of specially identifying those as “Holy Week” eggs brought about their decoration. Thus, the egg itself became a symbol of the Resurrection. Just as Jesus rose from the tomb, the egg symbolizes new life emerging from the eggshell.
The equally prevalent custom of associating a rabbit or bunny with Easter has its roots in the Protestant areas across Europe since the 17th century and gained much favor around the 19th century. The Easter bunny is said to lay the eggs as well as decorate and hide them. According to folklore the Easter bunny hides baskets with colored eggs, toys and candies on Easter morning. Hunting for these chocolate easter eggs is indeed one of the most enjoyable things about Easter if you ask children!
Apart from such fun-filled customs, food also plays a crucial role when families get together. While classic preparations like roast lamb, dyed boiled eggs and gubbröra find their place in the Easter buffet and appeal better to the traditional palette, some foods have developed their own significance as Easter symbols in modern times. Chocolate eggs, bunny cupcakes and vegan adaptations of old classics are scoring big as crowd favorites among teens and young adults. The varying and ever-evolving customs of Easter fill us with a festive, celebratory spirit, and the fact that it falls in the rejuvenating spring season, adds another layer to this initially religious celebration of life and rebirth.
So, here is wishing you a Happy Easter. May you celebrate the myriad colors and gifts of life with your loved ones, and loads of scrumptious food and delectable chocolate treats!