Why Eggs for Easter?

Easter dishes, collage and some photos by LadyDuck
By Anna
@LadyDuck (471456)
Switzerland
April 7, 2017 6:25am CST
While the German tradition associates the eggs (and bunnies) to the fertility and rebirth, other cultures have different traditions and believes. An old tale, says that Mary Magdalene brought to the tomb of Jesus a basket full of cooked eggs, that miraculously turned red when she saw that Christ resurrected. This is why many Christians dye the eggs red to represent the blood of Christ. According other believes, the egg reminds the shape of the boulder that closed the tomb of Jesus. Anyway, the most logical explanation comes by the fact that, during Lent, Catholics were not allowed to consume eggs. As hens did not stop to lay eggs during Lent, this caused a surplus of eggs, that had then to be quickly consumed as soon as the Lent ceased. This is why eggs were served on the Easter table. In Italy we still serve eggs on Easter, mini potato baskets with boiled eggs, fried eggs and asparagus, "Pasqualina" a savory cake made with spinach and eggs and for dessert a cake called Colomba (Dove) to represent the peace. Do you serve a traditional Easter Lunch in your country?
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92 responses
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
7 Apr 17
If I do a family Easter lunch I usually cook a turkey. This year we are going to my daughter's mother-in-law's, so I don't know what she will serve. Some interesting things you've unearthed about Easter eggs here.
14 people like this
@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
8 Apr 17
@jaboUK It's even hard to find a turkey to buy in this season, both in Italy and Switzerland, we only find whole turkey for Christmas.
4 people like this
@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
7 Apr 17
Thank you Janet, turkey is not very popular in Italy. In France people used to have the roasted leg of lamb with the small green kidney beans. Many Italians also serve roasted lamb the day of Easter.
6 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
8 Apr 17
@LadyDuck I do love lamb too, but a turkey feeds more if we have a big gathering.
6 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
7 Apr 17
I always believed that eggs had an association with Eostre, the Goddess from whom we get the name Easter.
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@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
7 Apr 17
@LadyDuck Eostre was an old pagan name, so it makes sense that Italians would not relate to her.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
7 Apr 17
We call Easter Pasqua and the origin of the name is of course very different. It comes from Latin Pascha, that means passage, transit.
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@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
7 Apr 17
@Asylum So true, Easter is not a Pagan celebration for Latin populations.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (51012)
• Canada
7 Apr 17
We don't really have a traditional Easter lunch that we follow. But we will certainly have a nice brunch as we always do. I wasn't aware that RC's were not allowed to consume eggs during Lent.
7 people like this
@Juliaacv (51012)
• Canada
7 Apr 17
@LadyDuck It must have been a very long time ago, otherwise we would have studied it in school.
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@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
7 Apr 17
This was in the past, no more in our days, many restrictions of the Roman Catholic Church have changed in the modern days, anyway nobody respected them.
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@cacay1 (83505)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
8 Apr 17
@Juliaacv, At home with celebrate Easter Sunday.; it is a nice day to bond with our family.
2 people like this
@sol_cee (38219)
• Philippines
7 Apr 17
Easter is feast day. Holy Week means home cooked meals.
5 people like this
@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
7 Apr 17
So true, during the whole week families cook traditional meals.
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@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
7 Apr 17
@sol_cee I like the taste of coconut.
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@sol_cee (38219)
• Philippines
7 Apr 17
@LadyDuck In ny country, mostly coconut based goodies.
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@Morleyhunt (21744)
• Canada
7 Apr 17
We don't do a "traditional" meal. We do get together as a family and have a lovely meal, but the menu will vary depending on which child is hosting and who will be attending.
6 people like this
@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
7 Apr 17
We had a very traditional meal in Italy when I was young, but people in our days do not follow the traditions anymore.
2 people like this
@cacay1 (83505)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
8 Apr 17
@Morleyhunt , That is always a nice way to bond with our family and loves of life.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21744)
• Canada
8 Apr 17
@cacay1 we see each other regularly...but we join as a family for Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving....some birthdays and we have a family picnic in the summer.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
7 Apr 17
I was born a Catholic and I have never heard about not being allowed to eat eggs during Lent. Interesting.
6 people like this
@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
7 Apr 17
@fishtiger58 It is still no meat on every Friday in Italy, even if almost nobody respects.
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@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
7 Apr 17
This was in the past, but when I was a kid (I am Roman Catholic being Italian) eggs were not allowed in Italy during Lent. I do not remember when this changed, but it's a long time.
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@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
7 Apr 17
@LadyDuck Things change for sure I just know we can't eat meat during Fridays in Lent.
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@snowy22315 (180870)
• United States
7 Apr 17
Interesting bit of Easter trivia there, Thanks!
5 people like this
@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
7 Apr 17
I like to search the origins of our traditions.
1 person likes this
@cacay1 (83505)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
8 Apr 17
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (49488)
• Mojave, California
7 Apr 17
We do not, fun holiday, just to religious for us. No kids in this family but we play hide the toy for the dogs. They have so much fun. We will leave it that.
4 people like this
• Mojave, California
7 Apr 17
@LadyDuck It is a bit melancholy when you think about it. Ah for the youth and the innocent
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
7 Apr 17
When I was a kid, the only thing I liked to receive was the chocolate egg with the surprise hidden inside. Now we do not celebrate anymore.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
7 Apr 17
@crossbones27 Yes, so true, good old ays.
1 person likes this
• United States
7 Apr 17
I don't celebrate Easter but it's nice to know how the eggs became of Easter. Did you ever get a chance to ask the store owner what customers would typically put in the large custom made Easter eggs?
5 people like this
• United States
8 Apr 17
@LadyDuck Wow such big easter eggs and they put smaller gifts but that's still cute hehe. Thank you for telling me.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
8 Apr 17
Sorry, I forgot to let you know, yes I asked, there are watches, bracelets and necklaces inside the big Easter eggs.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
8 Apr 17
@infatuatedbby They try to put inside something not too big, but with some value.
1 person likes this
• Valdosta, Georgia
8 Apr 17
We do have eggs on Easter. =) That's cool to know where it came from. Thanks for sharing.
4 people like this
• Valdosta, Georgia
8 Apr 17
@LadyDuck I have never tried lamb and I don't want to. =(
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
9 Apr 17
@LovingMyBabies Poor babies, I will never eat lamb again.
@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
8 Apr 17
I am surely going to prepare eggs for Easter, I do not intent to have lamb, poor little animals.
1 person likes this
@shshiju (10342)
• Cochin, India
7 Apr 17
We have our traditional food after Easter. We take meat and fish after Easter.
5 people like this
@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
7 Apr 17
I think that you also cannot eat certain food just before Easter, is the same for us.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
7 Apr 17
@shshiju Yes, all the Lent period, it's 40 days here.
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@shshiju (10342)
• Cochin, India
7 Apr 17
@LadyDuck Yes fasting is there for 50 days.
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@just4him (317089)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
7 Apr 17
It's been a while since I dyed eggs. My traditional dinner is leg of lamb with potatoes and vegetables. I'll purchase that next week. Eggs are a routine part of my diet.
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@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
7 Apr 17
I will the savory cake with eggs, no lamb, they are too cute, may be I am going to prepare a baked chicken.
2 people like this
@cacay1 (83505)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
8 Apr 17
@just4him , That is nice, ours here beef and native chicken. We do not have here lamb meat.
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@cacay1 (83505)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
8 Apr 17
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@JudyEv (340230)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Apr 17
We don't serve a traditional Easter lunch. I wouldn't have known what one was except for your post. I don't know if the English have traditional foods apart from hot cross buns.
4 people like this
@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
7 Apr 17
@JudyEv I have checked to see the look of the cake, it's a fruit cake that is surely a bit heavy, but it is true that it is a traditional cake in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
7 Apr 17
I have no idea about English traditions, in France it was the roasted whole leg of lamb served for Easter.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (340230)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Apr 17
@LadyDuck Simnel cake came to mind and that is traditional at Easter apparently. Roast leg of lamb sounds good too.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
7 Apr 17
I don't personally and I don't believe it is a tradition in our country.
4 people like this
@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
7 Apr 17
The families do not follow anymore the traditions as we did when I was young. I think that most people leave for a short vacation now for Easter.
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@cacay1 (83505)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
8 Apr 17
@Happy2BeMe , I also have not heard it in Ph.
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@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
7 Apr 17
@LadyDuck Yes a lot of people do here as well
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@Shellyann36 (11384)
• United States
8 Apr 17
We have Easter dinner and it normally includes spiral ham, potato salad, various other vegetable dishes and of course deviled eggs. The eggs that the kid dye for the Annual Easter Egg hunt, get turned into egg salad for lunches the next week.
3 people like this
@Shellyann36 (11384)
• United States
9 Apr 17
@LadyDuck In our area, we are not big on lamb. Ham and turkey seems to be our standby's Of course, some may also use veal. I agree with you that lambs are too cute to even think about eating (well for me anyway!). I know further up north in the US rack of lamb is talked about often. Your meal sounds very good to me.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
9 Apr 17
@Shellyann36 There are lambs in the field in front of our garden, they are so cute little animals, I do not even want to think to eat them, I do not eat veal anymore, they are also poor cute babies.
@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
8 Apr 17
Traditionally here (and in Italy and France too) people eat lamb for Easter. I do not want to eat lamb, because they are cute little animals, so I will prepare a risotto with asparagus and eggs baskets.
1 person likes this
@OreoBrownie (3755)
• Commerce, Georgia
7 Apr 17
I didn't know this. Very interesting.
3 people like this
• Commerce, Georgia
17 Apr 17
@LadyDuck I'm a little under the weather. I'm on mylot to de-sress a bit to fight anxiety
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
17 Apr 17
@OreoBrownie I am sorry, sometimes during the holidays we feel more down than the normal days.
@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
7 Apr 17
Thank you Charlene, I hope you feel well today.
1 person likes this
• Austin, Texas
8 Apr 17
I feel like I went on a European tour. Thanks for this food history. I don't usually serve a traditional Easter meal because in America we serve ham and ham is off limits for my husband,
3 people like this
• Austin, Texas
8 Apr 17
@LadyDuck - Your meal sounds delicious!
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
8 Apr 17
@cmoneyspinner Thank you, it will be very light, but the cake must be there.
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@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
8 Apr 17
I have noticed that many mentioned ham for the Easter lunch. No pork for Easter in Europe, most of the time is lamb or goat. I prefer not to serve lamb, so my choices are eggs and asparagus, risotto and a cake.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
7 Apr 17
this makes me wanna make popovers! anyways, ham seems to be the traditional meal, I have to work a double at D store that day, so nothing special for me
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
11 Apr 17
@Jessicalynnt Absolutely, the menus are different according to the countries, the warmer the temperature the lighter the menu.
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@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
8 Apr 17
I have noticed that Americans serve ham (or turkey) for Easter as they do for Christmas, we have a completely different menu, a lot lighter, for Easter because it's Spring and the temperature is warmer.
1 person likes this
• Centralia, Missouri
11 Apr 17
@LadyDuck true, weather and temps do play a role in what's traditional I think.
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
7 Apr 17
Any day that is as highly commercialized as Easter is, cannot be connected to Jesus. Easter is entirely PAGAN, based on PAGAN rituals, even though religious leaders try to come up with stories that would try to make a person think otherwise. If it were a Christian celebration, don't you think that the early disciples of Christ would have celebrated it and wrote about it in the Bible. The one place that Easter is mentioned in the King James Bible is a mistranslation of the word Passover. This is a well-known fact.
4 people like this
@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
7 Apr 17
I had not at all intention to write a religious post. I wrote about a tradition and I stay away from religious discussions. I have nothing to say about Bible or other forms of religions.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
7 Apr 17
Those photos looks so good I could try a taste of each this morning. Yes we boil eggs, I stuff eggs.
4 people like this
@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
7 Apr 17
I love stuffed eggs and the little eggs in the potato baskets are among my favorite.
@LadyDuck (471456)
• Switzerland
9 Apr 17
@Lupita234 They are good but pretty heavy.