1.

Easter Eggs

Originally a pagan symbol of fertility and rebirth, the Christian tradition of Easter eggs came to symbolize the
resurrection of Jesus on Easter. The eggshell symbolizes the tomb in which Jesus’s body was placed; opening the egg
represents his rising from the dead.

Additionally, early Christians who celebrated Lent would not eat eggs for the 40 days before Easter — so delicious
eggs on Easter morning was an especially rewarding treat.

Why Do We Dye Easter Eggs?

In the early Christian church (and in many Orthodox traditions today), the eggs were dyed red to symbolize the blood
of Jesus during the resurrection.

As the tradition continued, Christians would paint different scenes from the Bible on the eggs, inspiring different
Easter egg designs.

Easter Egg Hunts

Another custom involving Easter eggs was the Easter egg hunt — which also represented the resurrection of Jesus.
Christians would hide dyed eggs for their children to find, symbolizing the search for Jesus’s body after the
crucifixion.

Today, children typically search for plastic eggs filled with candy rather than cooked eggs, but the source of the
tradition is the same.

Chocolate Easter Candy

Easter follows the period of Lent, which prohibits indulgences such as chocolate and sweets.

So Easter morning is the time when observers of Lent can finally have a bite of a chocolate bunny (or gooey
chocolate egg, or whatever your favorite Easter treat may be).

Jellybeans

If chocolate candy isn't your thing, you may prefer all those pastel-colored jellybeans in your basket instead.

Jellybeans on Easter symbolize the holiday with their egg-like shape and their sweet flavor, signalling the end of Lent.
In an egg shortage during World War I, jellybeans proved to be a delicious substitute in all those Easter baskets.

2. Easter animals

Baby Chicks

Chicks are a common symbol of Easter, as illustrated by the popularity of Peeps marshmallow candy. Because baby
chicks are born by hatching from an egg, they symbolize new life and fertility, which is strongly associated both with
Easter and the spring season overall.

Other baby animals are also sometimes considered to be Easter symbols.

The Lamb

The lamb symbolizes Jesus himself. According to Christian tradition, Jesus was sent to Earth to provide for the
forgiveness of the sins of all mankind. On Good Friday, the day he was crucified, he was led “as a lamb to the
slaughter.”

Additionally, like baby chicks and other newborn animals, the baby lamb symbolizes rebirth and new life in the
spring season.

The Easter Bunny

So if eggs are such an important part of Easter, why do children get presents from the Easter bunny instead of the
Easter chicken?
One theory for the origin of the Easter bunny comes from the pagan festival of Eostre, as the goddess was
traditionally represented by a rabbit (another symbol of fertility due to how quickly they reproduce).

In 18th-century German folklore, the rabbit (Osterhase, or “Easter Hare”) laid eggs for children to discover on Easter
morning. The tradition followed German immigrants to America, where the Easter bunny became a mainstay of
American Easter mornings — religious and nonreligious alike.

The Butterfly

Butterflies are symbols of the resurrection of Jesus. Just as butterflies emerge from a chrysalis in which they are
hidden away, Jesus emerges from the tomb three days after being laid to rest in it.

They also represent the transformation the Christian faith can lead to, through the grace of God.

3. Easter plants

Palm Branches

During Christian church services on Palm Sunday, the week before Easter, parishioners are provided with palm
fronds that are used to ceremonially recreate Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem prior to the crucifixion.

This represents the biblical story of townspeople honoring Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey by tossing
small branches (likely including palms) and other items ahead of his path. Palms are said to symbolize victory and
peace.

Easter Lilies

Easter lilies are often the centerpiece of Easter celebrations. Legend has it that white lilies sprung from the ground
around Jesus as he spent his final hours on the cross. It is said that when his perspiration hit the ground, a lily grew in
that spot.

As a result, Easter lilies are symbolic of new life as well as purity. For Easter, they symbolize Jesus' resurrection and
the promise of everlasting life.

The Easter lily is both a pagan and Christian symbol, closely connected to Easter from either side. In most pagan
traditions, the gorgeous white lily is as much a symbol of the springtime fertility of the land as are bunny rabbits,
baby chicks, and Easter eggs.

In the pre-Christian Roman tradition, the white lily was also associated with Hera, the Queen of Heaven. According
to her myth, the white lily came from Hera’s milk.

Likely from there, the lily later became associated with Mary in the Roman Church. Lilies were also often mentioned
in the Bible, although the wild Middle Eastern lilies at the time weren’t exactly the same flowers as the
modern Lilium Longiflorum white lilies we often use on Easter.

Daffodils.

Daffodils are a traditional Easter flower and are associated with the wonderful season of spring. They brighten up
any room and signify new beginnings, rebirth and the coming of spring. This makes it the perfect Easter flower as it
signifies where the occasion came from, the death and resurrection of Jesus. Daffodils are some of the first flowers
we see in springtime and are a great indicator that winter is over. Because of this, they are seen to represent rebirth
and new beginnings.
 4. Easter Traditions

When you think of Easter—whether you’re religious or not—which family traditions come to mind? We decorate
homes with colored Easter eggs, put out baskets for the Easter bunny to fill, give Easter lilies as gifts, and even eat
traditional foods, from lamb to ham to special sweet breads.

Eggs have always been revered as a symbol of life. Ancient cultures, like that of the Hindus, Persians, Egyptians and
Phoenicians, believed that our world originated from a large egg. During spring time, most ancient cultures
celebrated spring festivals by gifting and eating dyed eggs. Even in folklore, eggs are sacred.

In most countries, the eggs are stained in plain vegetable dye colors. Among Orthodox Christians, the faithful
present each other with crimson eggs in honor of the blood of Christ. In parts of Eastern Europe, it’s tradition to
create intricate designs on the egg with wax or twine before coloring.

The history of Easter symbols is really quite interesting. It’s not as simple as saying whether they are pagan or
Christian; history is a rich and beautiful tapestry woven through the ages.

Since we’re talking about the Easter lamb, let’s not forget the Easter ham. It, too, is an age-old custom, handed down
from pre-Christian times, to eat the meat of this animal on festive occasions, feast days, and weddings. Smoked or
cooked hams, as well as lamb, have been eaten by most European nations from ancient times and are a traditional
Easter dish from coast to coast in this country. Roast pork is another traditional main dish in some countries.

Sweet breads are also a tradition, especially with the conclusion of Lent, a period when many people do not indulge
in sweets. For Christians, the resurrected Christ is called, “the bread of life” (John 6:35), in whom believers will find
their daily spiritual sustenance. In Greece, the traditional Easter bread is baked with a red-dyed egg on top, covered
with two strips of dough in the form of a cross.

Hot cross buns, hot cross buns! Traditionally, this delicious sweet bun was served on Good Friday, the Friday prior to
Easter. Good Friday marks the end of Lent and is the day that Jesus died on the cross. The sweet bun is marked with
a cross to help the bread rise and as a visible sign that the bread was “blessed.”

5. Easter

Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus from the tomb on the third day after his crucifixion. Easter is the
fulfilled prophecy of the Messiah who would be persecuted, die for our sins, and rise on the third day (Isaiah 53).
Remembering the resurrection of Jesus is a way to renew daily hope that we have victory over sin. According to the
New Testament, Easter is three days after the death of Jesus on the cross.

Easter follows a period of fasting called Lent, in which many churches set aside time for repentance and
remembrance. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Good Friday, the day of Jesus' crucifixion. The 40 day
period was established by Pope Gregory 1 using the 40-day pattern of Israel, Moses, Elijah, and Jesus' time in the
wilderness.

The week leading up to Easter is called The Holy Week, or "Passion Week", and includes Palm Sunday (the day Jesus
entered Jerusalem and was celebrated), Maundy Thursday (the "Last Supper" where Jesus met with his disciples to
observe Passover), and Good Friday (when Jesus would be crucified on the cross).

Easter is a very significant date within Christianity and is the foundation of the Christian faith. Jesus, the Son of God,
fulfilled prophecy and through his death, has given the gift of eternal life in heaven to those who believe in his death
and resurrection. Read the entire Biblical account of Resurrection Day in Matthew 28, Mark 16, and Luke 24 and
more Easter Bible verses at [Link].

The Cross

The Cross is easily one of the most popular and recognizable Christian symbols in the world. It came to be associated
with Easter as Jesus Christ was crucified on the hill of Golgotha on Good Friday. Three days later, on Easter itself,
Jesus rose from his tomb having fulfilled his promise to humanity and redeemed their sins.

For that reason, the simple cross made out of a dogwood tree is the most significant symbol of Easter.
 6. What traditions do Christians do on Easter?

For Christians the egg is a symbol of Jesus' resurrection and cracking open the egg is a sign of the empty tomb. It is
also a sign of new life as chicks hatch out of eggs. The tradition of decorating hard boiled eggs by painting or
dyeing is an Easter tradition which dates back to the 13th century.

Many Christians worldwide celebrate Easter with special church services, music, candlelight, flowers and the
ringing of church bells. Easter processions are held in some countries such as the Philippines and Spain. Many
Christians view Easter as the greatest feast of the Church year.

On Good Friday, Jesus Christ was executed by crucifixion. His body was taken down from the cross, and buried in a
cave. The tomb was guarded and an enormous stone was put over the entrance, so that no-one could steal the body.

The Empty Tomb

As with the Cross, Jesus’ empty tomb is a Christian symbol that represents Easter in the most straightforward
fashion.

When Jesus rose from the dead, he left the empty tomb behind him on the day of Easter and proved his resurrection
to the world.

While the empty tomb isn’t used as a symbol of Christianity as often as the Cross, it’s arguably even more directly
linked to the holiday of Easter.

7. Easter Traditions From Around the World

Easter is a holiday celebrated around the globe. And while some people may celebrate it in a familiar way that
includes Easter traditions like tracking the Easter bunny or decorating Easter eggs, there’s a whole world of other
ways people mark the holiday. Many of these Easter traditions are still steeped in the religious rituals that Christian-
based faiths use to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.

In New Zealand and parts of Australia, hot cross buns are more than just a tune you have to learn as a kid; they're an
Easter favorite. The island countries enjoy noshing on these dense treats on Easter, which occurs during
their meteorological fall.

Fly a Kite
In Bermuda, people fly homemade kites on Good Friday. Legend has it, the tradition started when a local teacher
had trouble explaining Jesus’s ressurection to his Sunday school class. So, he made a kite to explain the concept.
Learn how to make your own!
Make a Fire
In areas of Northwestern Europe, natives light large bonfires called Easter Fires on Easter Sunday and Monday. They
began as a way to chase the winter away — but now they bring communities together.
Put on a Costume
In Sweden, children dress up as Easter witches and wear old clothes. Similar to our Halloween, the kids walk around
their neighborhoods but they trade their artwork for candy.
Make an Omelet
Residents of Haux, France, serve an enormous omelet on Easter Monday. They use more than 4,500 eggs and feed
up to 1,000 people.
Make a Bonnet
Easter bonnet parades take place in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Kids can decorate their
own bonnets with bunny ears, chickens, eggs, chocolate, or flowers!