Why do we give chocolate eggs at Easter?
Amelia Lorrimore explains the origins of egg decorating and egg gifting at Easter, and explains why we now give chocolate eggs.
Spring is a time for welcoming new life into the world. It’s filled with beautiful images of lambs, chicks, calves and many more adorable baby animals, and it is host to the wondrous time of year that we know today as ‘Easter’. Eggs were significant at this time of year even in pagan times - as they symbolised new life and hope in spring. Easter itself is a religious celebration that occurs across the globe, celebrating and rejoicing in the resurrection of Christ after the crucifixion. Today we have come to celebrate this profound moment in religious history through the practice of giving chocolate Easter eggs. But, why? Why do we give chocolate of all things? And why in the shape of eggs?
Well, Easter eggs weren’t always chocolate: the earliest Easter eggs given by early Christians in Mesopotamia, were decorated and stained red - the red symbolised the blood shed at Christ’s crucifixion - and these were then given as gifts. One of the reasons for eggs being the chosen item for decoration was because during the time of lent, eggs were forbidden from being eaten, therefore they were decorated and given as gifts to eat in celebration at the end of fasting.
The reason for Easter eggs being chocolate today is the evolution of the tradition as time progressed and Christians were able to become more creative with their egg decorating. The evolution of the decorated egg began in the 18th century; people would make eggs out of papier mache and hide small gifts inside them. By the 19th century people were making eggs out of cardboard and decorating them with lace, silk and ribbon (this was thought to have been very fashionable), and it was in the 19th century that chocolate eggs began to emerge. Originating in France, dark chocolate Easter eggs were given, however they were often bitter and particularly solid and hard, because there was no efficient way of moulding the chocolate. The proper manufacture and production of chocolate Easter eggs began at the end of the 19th century, as technological developments allowed for hollow eggs to be produced.
Fun fact: the first hollow chocolate Easter egg was produced in Bristol, by a company in 1873, who merged with Cadbury’s and together produced the first chocolate Easter egg line in 1875.
The original Cadbury’s Easter eggs were filled with sweets and made of dark chocolate, and the pattern that we find on chocolate eggs now - rather than them being smooth - came from Germany. As milk chocolate became more popular, Easter eggs were produced in milk chocolate, as well as dark chocolate. This promoted Easter eggs as the sweeter chocolate appealed to many more people.
Although the practice of giving Easter eggs at Easter was originally a remembrance of the crucifixion of Christ, they are now given by many non-religious people at Easter. This is largely due to the fact that the advancement in science and religious freedom, throughout the last two centuries, has caused many people to become atheist or agnostic, however this doesn’t stop them from enjoying some chocolate during this time of new life and joy. Easter eggs are now sold globally and, when they are advertised, they don’t have the same symbolism attached to them as the traditional Easter eggs did, however they are delicious and for that reason they are sold easily every year.
Amelia Lorrimore, Year 12
Spring is a time for welcoming new life into the world. It’s filled with beautiful images of lambs, chicks, calves and many more adorable baby animals, and it is host to the wondrous time of year that we know today as ‘Easter’. Eggs were significant at this time of year even in pagan times - as they symbolised new life and hope in spring. Easter itself is a religious celebration that occurs across the globe, celebrating and rejoicing in the resurrection of Christ after the crucifixion. Today we have come to celebrate this profound moment in religious history through the practice of giving chocolate Easter eggs. But, why? Why do we give chocolate of all things? And why in the shape of eggs?
Well, Easter eggs weren’t always chocolate: the earliest Easter eggs given by early Christians in Mesopotamia, were decorated and stained red - the red symbolised the blood shed at Christ’s crucifixion - and these were then given as gifts. One of the reasons for eggs being the chosen item for decoration was because during the time of lent, eggs were forbidden from being eaten, therefore they were decorated and given as gifts to eat in celebration at the end of fasting.
The reason for Easter eggs being chocolate today is the evolution of the tradition as time progressed and Christians were able to become more creative with their egg decorating. The evolution of the decorated egg began in the 18th century; people would make eggs out of papier mache and hide small gifts inside them. By the 19th century people were making eggs out of cardboard and decorating them with lace, silk and ribbon (this was thought to have been very fashionable), and it was in the 19th century that chocolate eggs began to emerge. Originating in France, dark chocolate Easter eggs were given, however they were often bitter and particularly solid and hard, because there was no efficient way of moulding the chocolate. The proper manufacture and production of chocolate Easter eggs began at the end of the 19th century, as technological developments allowed for hollow eggs to be produced.
Fun fact: the first hollow chocolate Easter egg was produced in Bristol, by a company in 1873, who merged with Cadbury’s and together produced the first chocolate Easter egg line in 1875.
The original Cadbury’s Easter eggs were filled with sweets and made of dark chocolate, and the pattern that we find on chocolate eggs now - rather than them being smooth - came from Germany. As milk chocolate became more popular, Easter eggs were produced in milk chocolate, as well as dark chocolate. This promoted Easter eggs as the sweeter chocolate appealed to many more people.
Although the practice of giving Easter eggs at Easter was originally a remembrance of the crucifixion of Christ, they are now given by many non-religious people at Easter. This is largely due to the fact that the advancement in science and religious freedom, throughout the last two centuries, has caused many people to become atheist or agnostic, however this doesn’t stop them from enjoying some chocolate during this time of new life and joy. Easter eggs are now sold globally and, when they are advertised, they don’t have the same symbolism attached to them as the traditional Easter eggs did, however they are delicious and for that reason they are sold easily every year.
Amelia Lorrimore, Year 12
