Easter traditions cracked open

It’s that time of year: almost every store you walk into is plastered with pastel colors, seasonal candy takes up three aisles and stuffed bunnies and chicks are sitting on the shelves begging you to take them home. Spring is upon us and Easter solidified its spot in the holiday decor section. 

As a child, Easter probably meant you got a break from school, got a basket of goodies, went to church and decorated easter eggs. 

As a college student, I find myself participating in the holiday less.

 Reflecting on past Easter traditions, I realize how much the holiday is centered around eggs. 

We decorate real eggs with various colors, stickers and designs. Plastic ones are hidden all around the house, which at least one will inevitably never be found. Cadbury Chocolate Creme egg revenue hits its annual spike. 

 Easter at its core, is a celebration of the resurrection of Christ, so how did the holiday deviate to coloring eggs? Better yet, how did a magical bunny that leaves baskets of candy become a mascot for the holiday?  

Well, I may not have an answer for the latter and perhaps that's up for discussion at a later time. Nevertheless, Easter traditions trace back to multiple different origins. 

Pagans considered eggs to be a symbol of rebirth and an indication of spring. Christians shaped this idea from the Pagans and applied it to Christ’s resurrection, making eggs a widespread symbol for resurrection and Easter.

The tradition of egg decorating is an ancient tradition that has subtly transformed over time. People would decorate them during Lent and give them to their peers on Easter Sunday. Easter egg hunts originated in Germany and the tradition later carried over to the U.S through immigrants. The Easter traditions of today are influenced by and celebrated across cultures. 

Amidst the springtime allergies and holiday craze, Easter traditions seem a bit egg-centered and random. However this deeper insight of Easter’s origins suggests that rebirth is not only the core of the holiday, but the season as a whole. 

So every time you find yourself buying those egg coloring kits or hiding plastic eggs filled with candy in the backyard, you keep the traditions of cultures alive.