Why Chocolate And Easter

Why Is Chocolate Associated With Easter?

Easter is a Christian celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Despite its association with Christianity, Easter has many rituals that are not directly religious. Hunting Easter eggs, for example, has little to do with the resurrection. Neither does visiting the Easter bunny to get a cute photo. Similarly, chocolate has become a ubiquitous part of celebrating Easter. Baskets filled with chocolate eggs and bunnies are customary gifts for children on Easter morning. This leads to the question of how chocolate became a part of Easter.


Eostre

Easter, though today Christian, was once a thoroughly pagan holiday celebrating spring. It comes from the Saxon holiday Eostre, which gradually became known as Easter. Symbols for rebirth, including eggs and rabbits, were popularly used in spring festivals by a number of pagan Europeans. When the Saxons converted to Christianity, the Catholic church altered its spring holiday to celebrate the resurrection of Christ.

Middle Ages

During the Middle Ages, Easter became one of the most important holidays of the Catholic calendar. Though now thoroughly Christian, the holiday still remained associated with the giving or eating of eggs and rabbits. However, chocolate remained unknown as the cacoa plant was native to Central and South America. With Columbus' discovery of the New World, chocolate was on its way to becoming part of the Easter holiday.


Chocolate Eggs and Bunnies

With refinement in the manufacture of chocolate in the 18th century, the first chocolate eggs and rabbits were made available in Germany and France in the early 1800s. These allowed the Easter symbols to become delectable chocolate treats and began the tradition of chocolate on Easter. The chocolate treats would soon outpace their real counterparts in popularity.

Spread of Chocolate on Easter

As companies in America and other parts of Europe began to manufacture Easter chocolates, the popularity of the confections soared. By the 1960s, chocolate Easter bunnies and eggs became a part of Easter celebrations worldwide, thanks to the increased advertising and availability of these chocolates. As with Christmas, Easter has become increasingly commercialized. This is shown in the consumption of Easter candies, including chocolate, which is second only to Halloween candy consumption.


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