Easter eggs

According to a survey carried out by a supermarket chain last year, 1 in 6 16-24 year olds knew nothing about Good Friday and over 10% knew nothing about Easter Sunday. However whilst many people may not know what Easter is about, there are many households who still enjoy chocolate eggs over the holidays.

According to various sources, Easter has been associated with old pagan celebrations of the rebirth of earth in the spring. Indeed according to some legends the very name Easter has been derived from ‘Eostre’, who was the Anglo Saxon Goddess of spring. In this way it was earlier addressed as the festivity of Eostre that always occurred during the period of vernal equinox, when the ratio of day to night was exactly the same. But some of the legends say that the Easter festival actually owes its origin to the Hebrew tradition, instead of the Christian tradition. According to the Hebrew lunar calendar it falls in the first month also known as ‘Nisan’. According to Hebrew tradition the reason behind its celebration is that it was during this period that Israel was rescued from the bondage of Egypt.

Eggs were a symbol of fertility in many pagan cultures. Church leaders forbade the eating of them during Lent but lifted the prohibition on Easter. The practice of dyeing and decorating eggs apparently originated in Middle East spring festivals and spread to Europe during the time of the Crusades.

Some facts about Easter

Easter always falls between March 22 and April 25.
Pysanka is a specific term used for the practice of Easter egg painting.
From very early times, the egg has been considered to be the most important symbol of rebirth.
The initial baskets of Easter were given the appearance of bird's nests.
The maiden chocolate eggs recipes were made in Europe in the nineteenth century.
Each year witnesses the making of nearly 90 million chocolate bunnies.
Next to Halloween, Easter holiday paves the way for the confectionary business to boom.