There are many things we love about Easter, the Easter bunny, the chocolate eggs, the hunts and so much more. But there are so many things that we didnât know about Easter, like where the origin of the Easter bunny story came from, where Easter Eggs originated from, or even where the worldâs largest Easter Egg actually is. If you want to know more, just check out this list of 10 things that you didnât know about Easter.
Pagen Goddess âEostreâ
Weâve all heard of some Pagan Gods such as Zeus, Aphrodite, Apollo etc. but did you know that back in those days, they also worshiped rabbits as god-like creatures because of their ability to mate and reproduce in shocking abundance? However, the main idea came from the Celtic Eostre, that had the legend that their Goddess would turn into a giant rabbit when the moon was full.
Olde English Goddess âOstaraâ
Although Easter may have some roots to ancient Christian traditions, the name âEasterâ actually came from Pagans. It has been said that the Olde English worshiped a fertility Goddess named Ostara and the Celtics worshiped a similar God by the name of Eostre, both these names gave us modern English words that clearly relate to fertility and Easter.
Origin Of âPaasâ Name
âPaasâ the Easter Egg dye kit company dating back to the 1880s was originally called âTownleyâs Easter Egg Dyeâ but was changed by the owner to âPaasâ after the Dutch word âPaasenâ to relate more to his Dutch customers.
Egyptian Egg Beliefs
Much like the Olde English and Celtic beliefs of the rabbits being a sign of fertility, the Egyptians believed that the egg was a symbol of birth and life. They believed that the Earth had hatched from an egg and they would even bury family members with colored eggs in their tombs. This egg worship spread to other cultures in the world where they would color eggs and use them for egg hunts, this then spread more.
Celebrating Easter With Fruit Cake
Having a fruit cake style dessert filled with apricot jam and topped with marzipan balls may not sound the best, but for the British it is. A lot of people believe that the marzipan is something that symbolizes Jesus and his 12 apostles, this is why it had become a British tradition to add into a cake.
Outlawing Easter Egg Roll
One of the most well-known Easter traditions in American is the annual Easter Egg Roll, this dates back to the 17th President of America, President Andrew Johnson. However, in 1876 the annual tradition had ripped up the landscaping and they didnât have enough money to get it fixed. Instead of hosting it somewhere else, they introduced the Turf Protection Act, stating that it was to prevent any portion of the Capitol grounds and terraces from being used as play-grounds. The act was passed but was soon renewed in 1878.
Time To Make A Marshowmellow Peep
Nowadays, Peeps are easy to find as it only takes around 6 minutes to make, however in the 1920âs they were very rare as they were harder to take and it would often take around 30 hours just to successfully complete just one.
Worldâs Largest Easter Egg
The Pysanka, which can be seen in Vegreville, Canada, was constructed in 1978 as a monument to the areaâs early Ukrainian settlements. The colors of the Pysanka are supposed to symbolize prosperity.
Cadbury Creme Egg Size
A lot of Cadbury crème egg fans have suspected that stores have been stocking their shelves with eggs that are a lot smaller than they used to be. News reports did confirm that the company shrank the egg sold in the US by 5 grams. With this, a fan of the candy did some research and found that the company has actually been reducing the candyâs size each year.
Safety Of Hollow Easter Bunny
You may be disappointed to find that when you bite into the chocolate Easter bunnies, it isnât filled with anything, itâs just hollow. However finding that it is hollow is probably 10 times better than having to go to the dentist to replace a missing tooth â this is the main reason as to why the bunnies arenât just 2-inches of thick chocolate.
