Of Easter Bunnies and Sweet Bread: What’s Behind Our Easter Traditions?

Have you ever wondered during a cozy Easter breakfast why we actually hide brightly painted eggs in the garden?

It’s fascinating how much we associate this time of year with specific flavors and rituals. It all often begins with the classic Easter egg, a staple in every basket today. Originally, the egg was seen as a symbol of new life and fertility, perfectly matching nature’s awakening in spring. But did you know that the church used to forbid eating eggs during Lent? Since the chickens kept laying them anyway, the eggs were simply preserved by boiling them and dyed red to commemorate the blood of Jesus. Today, we mostly enjoy the colorful variety on our plates and the fun of egg tapping with our loved ones.

But who actually commissioned the bunny to do all the hard work?

The Easter Bunny is the undisputed star of the holiday today, but that wasn't always the case. In some regions, a fox or a stork was once responsible for delivering the eggs. The bunny likely won the job due to its reputation as a particularly fertile animal that heralds the arrival of spring. When you bite into a chocolate bunny today, you’re indirectly celebrating an ancient symbol of vitality. Fittingly, the Easter lamb is also a must-have, which we now mostly enjoy as a sweet sponge cake. This custom dates back to the Jewish Passover and reminds us of innocence and peace, while adding a wonderfully nostalgic touch to our dessert table.

The magic of fire and the light of community

Perhaps you’ve also watched a roaring Easter bonfire on Holy Saturday and felt its cozy warmth. This spectacle is meant to symbolically drive away winter and welcome the light of resurrection. It’s the moment when we come together, bid farewell to the darkness, and look forward to the warm days ahead. Whether you celebrate for the deep symbolism or simply for the great food is entirely up to you. What matters most is that we use these small breaks in our daily lives to enjoy things together and savor the anticipation of spring to the fullest.

Photo by Anna Bratiychuk via Unplash