Is the meaning of Easter lost to children today? My children get taught about the meaning of Easter at school—a Church of England school—but when it comes to it, all they really want is their chocolate eggs.
And honestly, can you blame them?
But it does raise an interesting question: why do we even have chocolate eggs at Easter? Was it simply a clever invention by chocolatiers, or is there something deeper behind the tradition?
The answer, as it turns out, goes back much further than chocolate.
Long before Easter became a Christian celebration, eggs were already powerful symbols of new life and renewal. Ancient cultures used them in spring festivals, marking the end of winter and the beginning of something new. When Christianity spread, this symbolism was adopted into Easter traditions, with the egg representing the resurrection—new life emerging from what appears lifeless.
By the time the Middle Ages came around, eggs had taken on an additional role. During Lent, the 40 days leading up to Easter, many people avoided eating rich foods—including eggs. As a result, eggs would be saved, decorated, and then eaten to celebrate the end of the fast on Easter Sunday.
The chocolate egg, however, is a much more recent development. It wasn’t until the 19th century that advances in chocolate-making allowed confectioners—particularly in Europe—to create hollow chocolate eggs. What started as a novelty quickly became a tradition, especially as gifting sweets became more popular.
So no, chocolate eggs weren’t the original point of Easter—but they weren’t entirely random either. They’re a modern twist on a very old symbol.
And perhaps that’s the balance many families recognise today. Children may be drawn in by the excitement of chocolate and egg hunts, but behind it all sits a tradition rooted in renewal, hope, and new beginnings.
So while my children may wake up thinking about chocolate eggs, maybe—just maybe—they’re also carrying forward a tradition that’s far richer than it first appears.
Sarah Pettyfer 