Easter: History, Traditions, and Customs Around the World
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Easter is one of those holidays that feels instantly familiar—chocolate eggs, pastel colors, bunnies doing questionable amounts of work—yet when you pause for a second, it’s also oddly mysterious. Why eggs? Why rabbits? Why does the date change every year, just to keep us all slightly confused?
Easter is celebrated by billions of people worldwide, but it doesn’t look the same everywhere. In some places it’s deeply religious and solemn; in others it’s playful, crafty, and sugar-fueled. In many homes (especially those with small children), it’s all of the above.
This is a pillar guide to Easter: where it comes from, what it means, how it’s celebrated around the world, and how ancient rituals, Christian theology, and folk traditions all somehow ended up on the same holiday table.
What Is Easter, Really?
At its core, Easter is a Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which, according to Christian belief, occurred three days after his crucifixion. It represents renewal, hope, and victory over death.
But Easter didn’t appear out of nowhere. The holiday sits at a fascinating crossroads of:
- Christian theology
- Jewish tradition (it is closely linked to Passover)
- Pre-Christian spring festivals
- Seasonal symbolism tied to rebirth and fertility
This layering is exactly why Easter feels so rich—and sometimes confusing.
Why Does Easter Fall on a Different Date Every Year?
If you’ve ever asked yourself why Easter refuses to stay put on the calendar, you’re not alone. Easter is a moveable feast, meaning its date changes each year. The rule is: Easter Sunday falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. In practice, this means Easter can occur anytime between March 22 and April 25.
This system connects Easter to both:
- The lunar calendar (full moon)
- The solar calendar (spring equinox)
Which feels very on brand for a holiday that blends science, faith, and ancient nature rituals.
Easter’s Ancient Roots: Spring, Renewal, and New Life
Long before Easter eggs were foil-wrapped and sold by the dozen, spring festivals were already happening across Europe and the Middle East.
Pagan Spring Celebrations
Many ancient cultures celebrated the return of light and warmth after winter. These festivals focused on: fertility, growth, renewal, and the agricultural cycle. Animals that reproduced quickly (hello, rabbits) and foods that symbolized life (eggs) were natural icons of these celebrations.
One frequently mentioned figure is Ēostre (or Ostara), a Germanic goddess associated with spring and dawn. While historians still debate the extent of her worship, her name is often linked to the English word Easter. Whether or not Ēostre herself was widely celebrated, the symbols of spring absolutely were.
The Christian Meaning of Easter
For Christians, Easter is the most important holiday of the year—even more significant than Christmas.
Holy Week
Easter is the culmination of Holy Week, which includes:
- Palm Sunday – commemorating Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem
- Maundy Thursday – the Last Supper
- Good Friday – the crucifixion
- Holy Saturday – a day of waiting and reflection
- Easter Sunday – the resurrection
Church services during this week range from solemn and reflective to joyful and celebratory.
Symbols in Christian Easter Traditions
- The cross – sacrifice and redemption
- The empty tomb – resurrection
- Light and candles – hope and new life
- White garments – purity and renewal
Even today, many Easter customs quietly echo these ideas, even in secular households.
Why Eggs? The Ultimate Easter Symbol
Eggs might be the most universal Easter symbol—and also one of the oldest.
Eggs as a Symbol of Life
Across cultures, eggs have long represented birth, creation, and new beginnings. In early Christianity, eggs became a symbol of the resurrection: a hard shell opening to reveal new life inside.
Easter Eggs in History
- During Lent, Christians traditionally abstained from eggs
- Eggs laid during this time were saved, cooked, and decorated for Easter
- In Eastern Europe, eggs were often dyed red to symbolize the blood of Christ
From there, decoration became art.
Decorative Egg Traditions
- Hungary, Ukraine, Poland: Intricate wax-resist eggs
- Greece: Red-dyed eggs cracked in a game called tsougrisma
- Germany & Austria: Eggs hung on branches as decorations
Chocolate eggs came much later—and changed everything.
The Easter Bunny: A Surprisingly Late Arrival
The Easter Bunny feels eternal, but it’s actually a fairly recent invention.
Where Did the Easter Bunny Come From?
The tradition originated in Germany, where children believed an egg-laying hare (Osterhase) brought gifts if they behaved well.
German immigrants brought the custom to the United States in the 18th century, and it evolved rapidly:
- The hare became a bunny
- Nests became baskets
- Eggs became chocolate
And suddenly, Easter had a mascot. No one questioned.
Easter Traditions Around the World
Easter is celebrated globally, but the customs can be wildly different.
United States 🇺🇸
- Easter egg hunts
- Easter baskets filled with candy
- Church services for those who celebrate religiously
- The famous White House Easter Egg Roll
United Kingdom 🇬🇧
- Hot cross buns on Good Friday
- Egg rolling competitions
- Chocolate eggs dominate modern celebrations
Italy 🇮🇹
- Processions and religious ceremonies
- Colomba di Pasqua (dove-shaped cake)
- Long family lunches on Easter Sunday
Spain 🇪🇸
- Semana Santa (Holy Week) processions
- Dramatic, deeply symbolic public rituals
Greece 🇬🇷
- Midnight church services
- Red eggs cracked at midnight
- Roasted lamb and large family meals
Hungary 🇭🇺
- Locsolkodás (Easter Monday sprinkling): Boys sprinkle girls with water or perfume for good luck and fertility
- Painted eggs are given in return
- Strong folk roots mixed with Christian tradition
Easter Food Traditions
Easter food is all about abundance—often after a period of fasting.
Common Easter foods include:
- Eggs (in every form imaginable)
- Lamb or ham
- Sweet breads and cakes
- Spring vegetables
Many traditional Easter foods carry symbolic meaning tied to sacrifice, renewal, or celebration.
Secular Easter: How the Holiday Is Changing
In many countries, Easter has become increasingly secular.
For some families, Easter is:
- A religious celebration
- A cultural tradition
- A seasonal holiday
- An excuse for crafts, baking, and chocolate
Or all four.
Modern Easter often focuses on:
- Family time
- Spring decorating
- Children’s activities
- Handmade traditions
Which is why Easter has become especially popular with makers, crafters, and small creative businesses.
Easter Today: A Holiday of Layers
Easter survives because it’s flexible.
It can be:
- Deeply spiritual
- Lighthearted and playful
- Ancient and modern at the same time
It welcomes solemn reflection and pastel-colored joy without asking you to choose.
And maybe that’s the real reason Easter has lasted so long.
Because after winter—literal or metaphorical—we’re all ready for something that reminds us:
Things can begin again.
Whether you celebrate Easter in church, around the table, through crafts, or simply by welcoming spring, the holiday carries centuries of meaning—and still leaves room for new traditions to grow.