Easter is at the top of my favorite holiday list because it’s a holiday that includes chocolate and bunnies. 🙂 No matter how old you are or where you are in the world, Easter is a fun family tradition that never goes out of style. Besides such holidays as Christmas, it’s another great time for children because the Easter bunny – which is even able to lay Easter eggs! – brings them presents.
From the Easter egg hunts to taking the first bite of a chocolate bunny, it’s not only a special religious holiday that marks an end to Lent, but one that represents the resurrection of Christ, too. For those who aren’t so religious, Easter allows you for a long weekend getaway filled with fun activities.
Interesting facts about Easter
While you count down the hours until the Easter Bunny drops off your candy, check out these 13 uncommon facts about Easter in Hungary.
- “Through the greenwood going, I saw a blue violet growing, I saw it start to wither, Can I water this flower?” Men sing it to ladies while pouring water on them in some traditional villages in Hungary. Only with good intensions, as the aim of this tradition is to preserve the beauty and youth of the latter. A more presentable form of this is when men sprinkle cologne water on the ladies, often reciting funny short verses at the same time and presented with Easter eggs, sweets, pálinka or even money in return.
- The Easter Bunny and his egg-hiding activity in a garden have a mysterious past. Details of its emergence as a symbol of the holiday are sketchy, but the first story about an egg-laying hare was published in Germany sometime in the Middle Ages and made its way to the US in the 18th century. This iconic bunny probably did not reach Hungary until the 20th century.
- 70% of Easter candy purchased is chocolate. Approximately 90 million chocolate bunnies are sold at Easter all around the world.
- Are you an ear, arm or tail person? Most people agree on how to eat a chocolate bunny. 76% percent of people eat the ears on the chocolate bunny first, 5 % go for the feet and 4 % for the tail.
- The exchange of eggs for Easter dates back to a springtime custom older than Easter itself in which eggs were given as a symbol of rebirth in many cultures. Christians consider Easter eggs to symbolize joy and celebration, new life and resurrection.
- The largest egg hunt in history was held at Cypress Gardens in 2007. The Florida theme park hid over half a million eggs. Nearly 10 thousand children and their parents scoured the grounds looking for them.
- There’s an Easter egg worth over 8 million dollars. Described as a cross between a Faberge and the Damien Hirst skull, the ornament is covered with over a thousand diamonds. Nested inside is a gold egg with a rock crystal dove hidden in it.
- Egg decorating goes back hundreds of years, to the 13th century. At that time eggs were a mandatory Lenten sacrifice, so in preparation for the day they could once again be enjoyed, people made them extra special by embellishing them. Within the Christian tradition, the color red symbolizes the blood of Christ, and the egg symbolizes eternal life. Other colors began to be used only three hundred years ago.
- Painting eggs on Easter is always fun. But it doesn’t have to be child’s play only. The art of painting eggs called Pysanka is originated in Ukraine. These highly decorated eggs have been made during Holy Week for generations. Makers use wax and dyes to color the eggs and all the eggs are a craft by themselves.
- Easter is the oldest Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Christ but it is celebrated at different times by Eastern and Western Christians. That’s because the dates for Easter in Eastern Christianity are based on the Julian calendar.
- Holy Week is celebrated during the week leading up to Easter. It begins on Palm Sunday, continues on to Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and then finally, Easter Sunday.
- The white trumpet shaped flower that represents the Easter season, as known as the Easter Lily. This beautiful flower symbolizes hope, new beginnings and life. The petals face downward, which is in honor of Jesus.
- The world’s most famous Easter Egg Roll is held on the White House lawn each Easter Monday for children and their parents. According to tradition, President James Madison began the event in 1814 on the grounds of the United States Capitol, but in 1877 a new lawn was planted and the gardeners cancelled the event. Congress then passed a law making it illegal to use the grounds as a children’s playground. At the request of a number of children, then President Rutherford B. Hayes brought the event to the White House lawns in 1878.
So there I have it – 13 funny, curious and interesting facts about Easter! Do you have any Easter traditions of your own? Let me know using the comments box below!
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