Easter is coming up, taking place this year on Sunday, the 31st March 2024. That means a four day weekend (thank you bank holidays!) and eating as much chocolate as possible. Easter eggs are a staple of the celebration, and Easter egg hunts are a staple of childhood. But, you may be wondering, why do we celebrate Easter with eggs? Easter is celebrated by Christians as the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but where do eggs come into it? Well, that’s what this article is here to answer.
What do Easter eggs represent?
The idea of an egg represents different things depending on who you ask. On a general level, eggs represent the idea of new life and rebirth. If you ask Christians, eggs represent Jesus’ emergence from the tomb. Then, the choice of chocolate eggs can also mean different things to different people. In a Pagan context, the chocolate egg started as a pagan symbol of fertility and spring, which developed into a representation of Jesus’ resurrection. This meaning continues to hold for many people from many different backgrounds. So, the general idea when asking why we celebrate Easter with eggs is that they represent the general idea of new life and rebirth.
Historical traditions
This idea of celebrating Easter with eggs also has a historical precedent. During the medieval period, it was forbidden to eat eggs during Lent (the 40 days before Easter). These eggs would be painted and decorated to mark the end of the period. So, it would be a real treat to tuck into them on Easter Sunday. This is similar to modern day Easter celebrations – spending time with friends and family while treating yourself.
Did you know?
The historical tradition of not eating any eggs during Lent led to the creation of Shrove Tuesday aka Pancake Day. It was tradition to use up all of the eggs within the household before the start of Lent. Therefore, pancake day. A great tradition if you ask me.
So, to answer the question, why do we celebrate Easter with eggs?
Well, it’s because, no matter what your religion is, they represent the same general idea of new life/rebirth/resurrection. It’s not too far of a stretch to make when you consider the idea of newborn animals hatching from an egg. But, that is why Easter is celebrated with eggs! You learn something new every day.
If you want to know more about Easter, find out why it always changes every year.
Aside from Easter, another thing that’s coming up is deadline/exam season (hooray!). If you’re looking to improve your study habits in preparation for everyone’s favourite time of the year, check out this article to see when is the best time to study – in the morning or the night?
Last Updated on March 22, 2024
Published on March 17, 2023
A student from University of Nottingham.
