Why do we do what we do at Easter? Here are some of the origins of our favorite Easter traditions.

1. The date isn’t the same for all Christians

This year, Eastern Orthodox Easter falls on Sunday, May 5. This falls on a different date than Western Christianity’s Easter Sunday because the Eastern Orthodox Church uses a Julian calendar, while we use a version of the Gregorian calendar. Instead of a sunrise service, many Orthodox Christians celebrate at midnight. A feast then begins, including red dyed Easter eggs blessed by a priest to represent the blood of Christ.

2. Bunnies

How did rabbits become a symbol for Easter? It is said that Easter bunnies made their way to the United States with German immigrants. The Osterhase was a rabbit that laid eggs in German tradition, and children would make nests for them to lay their eggs around Eastertime. On Easter morning, baskets filled with goodies replaced the nests. Others say that this came from the pagan holiday Eostre, with a bunny as a symbol of fertility.  

3. Eggs

Eggs are another sign of fertility and new life. Decorating eggs goes back to the 13th century. Churches were to abstain from eating eggs during Lent, and so they feasted on eggs during Easter. In the 19th century, Russian high society traded ornately decorated eggs, some even jewel-encrusted, on Easter. For many, the imagery of the egg is a symbol for Christ’s resurrection from the tomb.

4. Chocolate

Did you know that the first chocolate egg was sold in 1873 in the United Kingdom? It came from JS Fry & Sons, and this company was soon to be known as the popular Cadbury company. High-tech molds for chocolate had just been invented and while they were a pain to make, JS Fry sold hollow chocolate eggs with sweets inside them for a high cost. Chocolate eggs were known before that in France and Germany, but without the ability to create a fancier mold, these eggs were made of solid dark chocolate. By the 1950s with the advent of new technology, chocolate eggs became much less expensive and were specifically marketed toward children.

5. White flowers in church

The Easter lily has its origins in southern Japan. They were brought to the Americas in 1880. Greenhouses have the ability to control conditions to make Easter lilies bloom for Eastertide, as the date of Easter changes from year to year. In mythology lilies have also been associated with motherhood. They remain a symbol of Easter as lilies are mentioned in the Bible numerous times. They hold symbolism of new life, new beginnings, hope, resurrection and grace.