Why Do We Eat Chocolate Eggs At Easter?

Chocolate eggs have become an iconic symbol of Easter in many cultures, but why exactly are they eaten during this holiday?

The custom of eating eggs at Easter has ancient roots, going back to pre-Christian traditions related to the celebration of spring and the rebirth of nature.

How the tradition of chocolate Easter eggs came about

Eggs have always been associated with fertility, rebirth, and new beginnings, as the cycle of life.
In ancient Rome, for example, eggs were exchanged during spring festivals in honor of the fertility goddess, Ostara. The Christian Church later adopted this practice during the celebration of Easter, a time when eggs were associated with the resurrection of Jesus. The custom of decorating eggs then became increasingly popular, eventually resulting in chocolate eggs that gained popularity during the 18th century, when cocoa processing became commonplace in Europe.

But let’s go in order and trace step-by-step the history of this delicacy.

Decorated eggs: from early humans to czars

The custom of decorating eggs dates to prehistoric times, but it is only with Christianity that this food became a symbol of rebirth and thus Easter. Early Christians, in addition to not eating meat at Easter time, could not even eat eggs. However, this certainly did not prevent the chickens from making them. So, it was decided to find another use for all those eggs that could not be eaten: boil them until they became hard, and then paint them with colors.

Over the centuries, the link between eggs and religion gradually became more and more separated, until the 18th and 19th centuries. During this period Fabergé Eggs, made of gold or other precious materials, became famous, originating as Easter gifts from the czars.

The official invention of the chocolate egg.

It was not until the 19th century, thanks to his research on cocoa, which had already arrived in Europe some time earlier, that Dutch chemist Coenraad Johannes van Houten discovered a method by which the beans could be processed to produce a more easily soluble cocoa powder, and he also devised another method for extracting cocoa butter. This was the basis for perfecting chocolate eggs, which originated in France as early as the 18th century. These, however, were full, so they were difficult to mold and rather hard to eat.

In 1875, the English company Cadbury succeeded in creating a tool that could mold the liquid cocoa paste previously obtained, resulting in today’s Easter egg, empty and with a surprise. Also, to this company we finally owe the birth of the milk Easter egg, invented by Cadbury itself in 1905.

Today, chocolate eggs are a symbol of joy and celebration during Easter and are often given as gifts among friends and family. In this context, looking for the perfect chocolate egg is no simple feat, but luckily there are a host of brands who have become synonymous with Easter eggs, thanks to their festive and delightful chocolate products. One example among all are Venchi’s Easter eggs, with their variety of flavors, which represent a perfect meeting of modern and traditional chocolate artistry, as well as a much – loved and long-awaited gift for people of all ages during the Easter holidays.