If you walk into a grocery store in early spring, you’ll see chocolate bunnies, pastel eggs, baskets, and hot cross buns everywhere.
What do these actually have to do with Easter? More than you might think.
Faith-Based Origins of Easter Traditions & Symbols
While many modern traditions we associate with Easter celebrations don’t seem to connect to the resurrection of Jesus at face value, there are actually some interesting and surprising connections.
Here’s the story behind some of the most well-known Easter traditions:
Easter Eggs: A Symbol of the Resurrection
Eggs are one of the oldest symbols connected to Easter—and their meaning actually fits surprisingly well with the message of the resurrection! Across many cultures, eggs have long represented life, renewal, and rebirth, especially in the spring when animals begin laying eggs again.
• Early Christians began adopting the egg as a symbol of Jesus’ resurrection. Just as a chick breaks out of its shell into new life, Christians saw the egg as a picture of Jesus breaking out of the tomb.
• In some early Christian traditions—particularly among Greek and Eastern believers—eggs were dyed red to represent the blood of Christ shed on the cross.
• Eggs became associated with Easter because many Christians historically abstained from eggs during Lent, so they became part of the Easter celebration once the fast ended!
Easter Baskets: Celebrating the End of Lent
Today Easter baskets are usually filled with candy and toys. But historically, baskets had a much simpler purpose.
• Christians would place foods they had given up during Lent—like eggs, butter, and meat—into baskets and bring them to church to be blessed before eating them on Easter.
• Over time, these baskets became more decorative and eventually turned into the treat-filled baskets that many kids look forward to.
Hot Cross Buns: A Reminder of the Cross
Hot cross buns are a spiced bread traditionally eaten on Good Friday, the day Christians remember Jesus’ crucifixion.
• The most recognizable feature is the cross baked into the top of the bun, representing the cross on which Jesus died.
• Some historians trace the tradition back to a medieval English monk who baked and distributed these buns to the poor on Good Friday in the 1300s.
Bonus: The Easter Bunny
The Easter bunny might feel like the most random symbol of the holiday—and it doesn’t necessarily connect to the Christian celebration of Easter—but it also has a fascinating history.
• Rabbits have long been symbols of fertility and new life because of how quickly they reproduce, which made them a natural fit for springtime celebrations.
• Some historians believe rabbits may be linked to early festivals celebrating the spring goddess Ēostre—whose name may also be connected to the word "Easter.”
• German folklore introduced the story of an egg-laying hare called the Osterhase, who would leave eggs for children who behaved well. Immigrants brought this tradition to America in the 1700s, where it evolved into the Easter Bunny we know today.
Modernized but Still Relevant
It’s true that many Easter traditions didn’t begin as Christian practices. But throughout history, Christians have often taken familiar cultural symbols and reframed them to tell the story of Jesus.
A bunny can remind us of new life. An egg can symbolize resurrection. A cross baked into bread can point to the sacrifice of Jesus.
And at the center of it all is the reason Easter exists in the first place: Jesus rose from the dead.
That’s the story worth celebrating—whether you’re decorating eggs, eating chocolate, or gathering with friends and family. If you’re looking for a place to celebrate, you’re invited to join us this Easter at LCBC Church!
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If you thought this was interesting, here are some more surprising and interesting facts about Easter to check out!