9 Incredible Fun Facts About Easter You Need to Know!
Learn about the religious significance of this holiday as well as popular foods, symbols, and other fun facts.
Mar 15, 2022
Easter — the most important Christian holiday of the year — marks Jesus' resurrection and appropriately coincides with the arrival of spring, the season of rebirth. The holiday is a time to celebrate fundamental beliefs and the change of seasons.
Countless traditions commemorate the Easter season, from decorating and hiding eggs to filling baskets with chocolate bunnies. It's also a good time to revisit your decor — and fill your home with the flowers and colors of spring — in advance of the traditional Easter dinner.
Frequently asked questions about Easter
When is Easter and how is the date determined?
In 2025, Easter is on Sunday, April 20. The date changes every year because the holiday falls on the first Sunday after spring's first full moon. Easter takes place after the 40-day period of Lent, a time when people typically fast during the day or give up something they enjoy. The week before Easter is considered “Holy Week." Palm Sunday takes place exactly a week before Easter, followed by Good Friday, and then Easter Sunday.
The first story about a rabbit coming to your backyard in early spring and leaving eggs in the garden was published in Germany in 1680. The Easter bunny was introduced to the Americas in the late 17th century by Christian German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania. They told their children stories about the Oschter Haws (or Osterhase), a hare from German folklore that gave colorful eggs to well-behaved children on Easter. The character evolved into the Easter Bunny.
What is the flower of Easter?
Easter lilies are the official flower of Easter and symbolize the resurrection of Christ. It's also believed that the large, white flowers described in the Bible as growing quickly throughout Palestine were lilies.
Americans spent $24 billion on Easter in 2023. Of that total, $3.3 billion went toward candy — besting the $3.1 billion spent on candy for Halloween, making Easter the biggest candy holiday on the calendar.
Households that assemble their own Easter baskets spend nearly $80 on average on all the necessities, including gifts, candy, decorations, and greeting cards.
A WalletHub study found that 78% of Americans think you should start eating a chocolate bunny at the ears. But watch out for your teeth: One of the main reasons for the hollow inside is so that people don't hurt their jaw or crack a tooth.
In 2017, the world's largest chocolate bunny was created in Brazil — it weighed an astonishing 9,359 pounds and stood nearly 15 feet tall. The tallest Easter egg ever created weighed 15,000 pounds and was 33 feet tall.
Spring is often used to represent new life and birth, while eggs have long symbolized fertility. Given the time Easter occurs and the religious meaning behind it, eggs quickly became a popular Easter symbol.
Before chocolate cornered the Easter food market, pretzels were eaten and exchanged as gifts. During the week leading to Easter, it's estimated that Americans eat around 16 million jelly beans. Traditional Easter Sunday dinner foods include ham, cut pineapple, lamb, string beans, glazed carrots, deviled eggs, hot cross buns, lemon bars, babka, and carrot cake.
In an egg roll, children roll an egg through the grass with a long-handled spoon. The activity dates back hundreds of years and may have originated to symbolize the rolling away of the rock from Jesus' tomb after his crucifixion.
The White House's annual Easter Egg Roll began in 1878 during the Hayes administration. Children and their families are invited to the president's home for egg hunting, rolling, and other festivities. It takes place the Monday after Easter Sunday.
Why is the Easter bunny associated with Easter?
The Easter bunny originated from German immigrants in Pennsylvania in the 1700s, who brought the tradition of an egg-laying hare called Oschter Haws. This character evolved from ancient symbols of spring fertility.
What do Easter eggs symbolize?
Easter eggs symbolize new life and fertility, rooted in ancient cultures. In Christianity, they represent the empty tomb of Jesus after his resurrection.
When did Easter egg hunts begin?
Easter egg hunts trace back to Martin Luther during the Protestant Reformation, where eggs were hidden for children to find, reminiscent of Mary Magdalene discovering Jesus's empty tomb.
What is the significance of hot cross buns?
Hot cross buns are spiced buns marked with a cross, traditionally baked on Good Friday. They have historical roots as offerings to goddesses in ancient cultures.
How is the date of Easter determined?
Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox, a method established by the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD.
What is the White House Easter Egg Roll?
The White House Easter Egg Roll began in 1878 and features egg rolling, decorating, and hunts, inviting families to celebrate on the president's lawn the Monday after Easter.
What is the official flower of Easter?
Easter lilies are the official flower of Easter, symbolizing the resurrection of Christ and associated with purity and new life.
What traditional foods are served on Easter?
Common Easter foods include ham, lamb, hot cross buns, and various sweets like chocolate bunnies and jelly beans, reflecting the festive nature of the holiday.
What is the origin of decorating Easter eggs with gold?
The practice began in 1290 when King Edward I of England ordered eggs to be painted or covered in gold leaf as gifts for his royal court, marking an early instance of elaborate egg decoration.
AUTHOR
Tara Carlson graduated from Hofstra University with a degree in Public Relations and loves any and all things creative writing - which is why she is thrilled to be working with Berry Chatty. When she's not writing, you can probably find her swimming at the beach, catching up on the latest movies (she's a big fan of award season!) and playing soccer.
