Easter Eggs!
Dear All.
On Wednesday we welcomed our students back with a ‘good luck’ message for those in Y10 and Lower Sixth who are now in the throes of their internal exam week, and those in Y11 and Upper Sixth who are preparing for their final exams.
We also looked back on the history and traditions associated with Easter. As well as being one of the most important parts of the Christian calendar, it is also a time of year known for its colourful traditions, and one of the most popular symbols of the season is, of course, the Easter egg. But why do we associate eggs with Easter and where did the tradition come from?
The use of eggs to celebrate new life stretches back to ancient cultures, such as the Persians and Egyptians, who gave decorated eggs as gifts during spring festivals to symbolise rebirth, fertility, and the renewal of life after the long, harsh winter.
As is the case with several traditions (such as many of the trappings we associate with Christmas), the egg was adopted by Christians from other cultures as an important symbol of Easter. Early Christians saw the egg as a representation of Jesus having risen from the Tomb, just as a chick breaks free from its egg. During the Middle Ages, eggs were forbidden during Lent and when the fast ended, people would celebrate by eating eggs.
In some cultures, eggs were dyed red to represent the blood of Christ, a tradition that is still popular in Orthodox Christian countries such as Greece and Russia. Other colours began to be associated with decorating eggs over time – gold and silver were sometimes used to show wealth and good fortune, while other colours represented joy, love, and renewal.
Decorating eggs has also been a key part of the Easter tradition for centuries. In the 13th century, King Edward I once ordered 450 eggs to be coloured and decorated with gold leaf before being given to members of his household. Perhaps the most famous decorated Easter eggs were those made by jeweller Peter Carl Fabergé for the Russian Tsars Alexander III and Nicholas II. Made of gold, silver, and precious stones, they contained hidden surprises inside such as miniature clocks or tiny models of palaces. 57 Faberge eggs are known to still exist, but experts believe there are at least 7 that are missing. The Third Imperial Egg was last sold in 2014 (to an unnamed private collector) and is estimated to be worth $33 million.
Egg rolling is a popular Easter activity in many parts of the world, particularly in the UK and the US. The tradition involves rolling hard-boiled eggs down a hill – the winner is the person whose egg travels the furthest without breaking. Some say this custom represents the rolling away of the stone from Jesus’ tomb after his resurrection.
One of the most famous egg-rolling events in history took place on 21st April 1878 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C. Children gathered to roll their eggs in a competition organised by First Lady Lucy Hayes, wife of President Rutherford B. Hayes. This event became an annual tradition known as the White House Easter Egg Roll, which still takes place to this day.
In the UK, one of the most famous locations for this activity is Avenham Park in Preston, where families gather every Easter Monday to roll eggs down the hill. Similar events happen in Scotland, with Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh being a popular egg-rolling spot.
Of course, when most people think of Easter eggs, they are most likely to think of chocolate. The first chocolate Easter eggs were made in France and Germany in the early 19th century, and were solid rather than hollow, with a much rougher texture.
In the UK, John Cadbury, founder of the famous chocolate company, who played a key role in developing the modern chocolate Easter egg. By 1875, Cadbury had perfected a smooth chocolate that could be moulded into hollow shapes, making it possible to create the first mass-produced chocolate eggs. The rest is history, with the myriad of shapes, sizes and surprise fillings we enjoy today.
So, the history of Easter eggs spans the ancient world to the supermarket shelves of today and, whether painted, rolled, or eaten, they remain a central part of Easter celebrations around the world.
If you have any chocolate left over, I hope you enjoy it this weekend!
Best wishes
Michael Bond
