Here’s Why The Egg Is Such A Huge Symbol Of Easter

Easter is coming up, and you know what that means — candy. It also means you may want to stock up on your egg supply. Break out the decorating kit, it’s time to celebrate!

Even though we’ve been dying eggs forever (and hiding plastic versions in our backyards for the annual hunt), most of us probably aren’t too sure why the egg is something that symbolizes Easter. Out of all the foods in the world, what is it about eggs that make them so special? I mean, why do we color eggs at Easter?

Before we get into the egg, let’s get into the bunny — since the two are somewhat related. Historically, it’s said that the Easter Bunny was introduced to America by Germans who settled in the Pennsylvania area back in the 1700s. The bunny wasn’t a standard bunny — it was a hare who laid eggs. Called “Osterhase” or “Oschter Haws,” it became a tradition for kids to make nests for the bunny to come over and lay eggs. Come to think of it, that may have been the inspiration behind the Easter basket. After all, that’s normally where kids find a few decorative eggs on Easter morning.

But, eggs have a religious connotation to them as well. According to History, the egg resembled the resurrection of Jesus.

Some believe that eggs were decorated as a way to signal that they were finally available to eat. During the Lenten season, eggs were off limits. But when Easter arrived, those who followed the religious tradition were able to enjoy them once again.

Eggs have also been used in traditions. For instance, the White House has hosted their annual Easter Egg Roll since 1878.

And plenty of churches, neighborhoods, activity centers, and schools have their own egg hunts. Typically, children look for colorful eggs outside in a park or backyard.

Eggs are also a symbol of rebirth. Easter happens in the spring, and you’ve likely heard of the phrase “spring renewal” before.

Even though you likely view Easter as a Christian holiday, and the egg as a symbol of Jesus, some believe that the egg may have originated from an even earlier time. The Huffington Post notes that European pagans used to observe the Spring Equinox as a time when the Sun God would return.

So, it’s still open for interpretation — especially since all of these theories make a lot of sense. But even if you don’t consider yourself to be religious, it’s still a lot of fun to dye eggs every year. Easter in general is seen as a holiday for all, and plenty of people just use it as a time to unite with family members.

Since it seems like there are new dye kits out every year, you can really get creative with your decorative eggs. (Just remember — using all the colors will give your egg a muddy brown hue.)

But, eggs don’t necessarily have to be hard-boiled to be appropriate for Easter. Don’t forget, brunch is big on Easter.

Even though, in all honesty, you might be a little over eggs if you’ve been eating your dyed stash earlier than you should. Good thing there are so many other foods one can eat for brunch.

Wonder how the bunny fits into all of this? You know some of its origins, and you know it lays eggs (even though we all know that bunnies don’t do this), but does it happen to relate to Christianity?

It turns out, the bunny isn’t mentioned in the Bible at all. The presence of the bunny actually has nothing to do with religion.

But it’s an interesting character for sure. Seeker believes that the main character of Easter is a bunny because rabbits are known for being pretty fertile. So in combination with the eggs, you can see how that derived.

The Easter Bunny reportedly goes back to the 1500s. But it was much later when stories emerged about them, and it became a popular association with the holiday.

Just make sure not to buy a live rabbit to make someone’s Easter more special. They’re cute and adorable, but also a pet that deserves love 24/7. So it might be a responsibility that someone — especially a child — isn’t ready to take on yet.

This year, while you’re busy enjoying your hard-boiled eggs, take a step back and think about how different cultures view that egg. For some, it’s a way to pay respect toward a religious event. For others, it’s just a nice sign that flowers, sunshine, and warmer days are ahead.