The History of Easter Eggs

The meaning of Easter Eggs

Eggs are a symbol of life, renewal and rebirth dating back millennia. The egg was adopted by early Christians as a symbol of the resurrection of Jesus Christ at Easter. The tradition of eating eggs at Easter is tied to Lent, the 6-week period before Easter during which Christians traditionally abstained from eating animal products. Since chickens continue to lay eggs throughout Lent, people would hard boil the eggs and decorate them with bright colours, then save them for Easter. 

The first chocolate Easter Eggs

The first chocolate egg to appear in the UK was made by Fry's in 1873. Founder, Joseph Fry, started out selling drinking chocolate in the 1750's. France and Germany began making chocolate eggs many years before the UK, but these were made from solid chocolate and were bitter and hard. Fry's innovation of mixing cocoa fat with cocoa powder and sugar, to make a smooth paste, meant that he could pour the chocolate into moulds. Thus making the first hollow chocolate eggs.

Some chocolate facts

Did you know that more than 200 million Cadbury Creme Eggs are sold in the UK each year?

In the 19th century, Queen Victoria's German mother organised egg hunts for her, a ritual which she and Prince Albert continued with their own children.

Egg rolling dates back to at least the 1790's and was especially popular in Cumbria.