Why Eggs for Easter?
By Anna
@LadyDuck (457822)
Switzerland
April 7, 2017 6:25am CST
While the German tradition associates the eggs (and bunnies) to the fertility and rebirth, other cultures have different traditions and believes.
An old tale, says that Mary Magdalene brought to the tomb of Jesus a basket full of cooked eggs, that miraculously turned red when she saw that Christ resurrected. This is why many Christians dye the eggs red to represent the blood of Christ.
According other believes, the egg reminds the shape of the boulder that closed the tomb of Jesus.
Anyway, the most logical explanation comes by the fact that, during Lent, Catholics were not allowed to consume eggs.
As hens did not stop to lay eggs during Lent, this caused a surplus of eggs, that had then to be quickly consumed as soon as the Lent ceased. This is why eggs were served on the Easter table.
In Italy we still serve eggs on Easter, mini potato baskets with boiled eggs, fried eggs and asparagus, "Pasqualina" a savory cake made with spinach and eggs and for dessert a cake called Colomba (Dove) to represent the peace.
Do you serve a traditional Easter Lunch in your country?
84 people like this
94 responses
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
7 Apr 17
We don't do a "traditional" meal. We do get together as a family and have a lovely meal, but the menu will vary depending on which child is hosting and who will be attending.
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@cacay1 (83223)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
8 Apr 17
@Morleyhunt , That is always a nice way to bond with our family and loves of life.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
8 Apr 17
@cacay1 we see each other regularly...but we join as a family for Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving....some birthdays and we have a family picnic in the summer.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
7 Apr 17
I was born a Catholic and I have never heard about not being allowed to eat eggs during Lent. Interesting.
6 people like this
@LadyDuck (457822)
• Switzerland
7 Apr 17
@fishtiger58 It is still no meat on every Friday in Italy, even if almost nobody respects.
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@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
7 Apr 17
@LadyDuck Things change for sure I just know we can't eat meat during Fridays in Lent.
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@snowy22315 (169828)
• United States
7 Apr 17
Interesting bit of Easter trivia there, Thanks!
5 people like this
@crossbones27 (48417)
• Mojave, California
7 Apr 17
We do not, fun holiday, just to religious for us. No kids in this family but we play hide the toy for the dogs. They have so much fun. We will leave it that. 
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@crossbones27 (48417)
• Mojave, California
7 Apr 17
@LadyDuck It is a bit melancholy when you think about it. Ah for the youth and the innocent
2 people like this
@sabtraversa (12890)
• Italy
7 Apr 17
@LadyDuck Thankfully my father still buys Easter eggs for himself and shares them with us. 
After a while you turn into a child again. 
After a while you turn into a child again. 2 people like this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
7 Apr 17
I don't celebrate Easter but it's nice to know how the eggs became of Easter.
Did you ever get a chance to ask the store owner what customers would typically put in the large custom made Easter eggs? 
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@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
8 Apr 17
@LadyDuck Wow such big easter eggs and they put smaller gifts but that's still cute hehe. Thank you for telling me.
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@LadyDuck (457822)
• Switzerland
8 Apr 17
@infatuatedbby They try to put inside something not too big, but with some value.
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@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
7 Apr 17
We do have eggs on Easter. =) That's cool to know where it came from. Thanks for sharing.
4 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
8 Apr 17
@LadyDuck I have never tried lamb and I don't want to. =(
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@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
7 Apr 17
I don't personally and I don't believe it is a tradition in our country.
4 people like this
@cacay1 (83223)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
8 Apr 17
@Happy2BeMe , I also have not heard it in Ph.
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@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
7 Apr 17
@LadyDuck Yes a lot of people do here as well
1 person likes this
@Shellyann36 (11385)
• United States
7 Apr 17
We have Easter dinner and it normally includes spiral ham, potato salad, various other vegetable dishes and of course deviled eggs. The eggs that the kid dye for the Annual Easter Egg hunt, get turned into egg salad for lunches the next week.
3 people like this
@Shellyann36 (11385)
• United States
9 Apr 17
@LadyDuck In our area, we are not big on lamb. Ham and turkey seems to be our standby's Of course, some may also use veal. I agree with you that lambs are too cute to even think about eating (well for me anyway!). I know further up north in the US rack of lamb is talked about often.
Your meal sounds very good to me.
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@LadyDuck (457822)
• Switzerland
9 Apr 17
@Shellyann36 There are lambs in the field in front of our garden, they are so cute little animals, I do not even want to think to eat them, I do not eat veal anymore, they are also poor cute babies.
@sabtraversa (12890)
• Italy
7 Apr 17
I only knew about eggs and bunnies as spring and fertility symbols, didn't know about the rest.
I think I've only had Pasqualina, Colomba and chocolate eggs for Easter, I have the other things during the year. I didn't know people were also obsessed with "normal hen eggs" during this festivity.
The boiled eggs basket in the photo looks so pretty. 
I think I've only had Pasqualina, Colomba and chocolate eggs for Easter, I have the other things during the year. I didn't know people were also obsessed with "normal hen eggs" during this festivity.
The boiled eggs basket in the photo looks so pretty. 3 people like this
@sabtraversa (12890)
• Italy
7 Apr 17
@LadyDuck I've never heard of shredded potatoes! I love potatoes!
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (457822)
• Switzerland
8 Apr 17
@sabtraversa Here in Switzerland they shred the potatoes to prepare a typical Swiss dish called Rösti (or roesti), you shred the potatoes, add sliced onions if you like and cook in a little olive oil until crispy.
1 person likes this
@cmoneyspinner (9221)
• Austin, Texas
8 Apr 17
I feel like I went on a European tour. Thanks for this food history. I don't usually serve a traditional Easter meal because in America we serve ham and ham is off limits for my husband,
3 people like this
@cmoneyspinner (9221)
• Austin, Texas
8 Apr 17
@LadyDuck - Your meal sounds delicious!
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@LadyDuck (457822)
• Switzerland
8 Apr 17
@cmoneyspinner Thank you, it will be very light, but the cake must be there.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
7 Apr 17
this makes me wanna make popovers! anyways, ham seems to be the traditional meal, I have to work a double at D store that day, so nothing special for me
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@LadyDuck (457822)
• Switzerland
11 Apr 17
@Jessicalynnt Absolutely, the menus are different according to the countries, the warmer the temperature the lighter the menu.
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@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
11 Apr 17
@LadyDuck true, weather and temps do play a role in what's traditional I think.
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@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
7 Apr 17
Any day that is as highly commercialized as Easter is, cannot be connected to Jesus. Easter is entirely PAGAN, based on PAGAN rituals, even though religious leaders try to come up with stories that would try to make a person think otherwise.
If it were a Christian celebration, don't you think that the early disciples of Christ would have celebrated it and wrote about it in the Bible. The one place that Easter is mentioned in the King James Bible is a mistranslation of the word Passover. This is a well-known fact.
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@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
7 Apr 17
Those photos looks so good I could try a taste of each this morning.
Yes we boil eggs, I stuff eggs.
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