A Concise History of the Easter Egg

Long before chocolate eggs and pastel baskets, humans were obsessed with these humble little ovals. In fact, decorated eggs have been a vibrant fixture of springtime rituals for thousands of years. From ancient fertility rites to joyous harvest celebrations, cultures across the globe painted and prized them as tokens of new life. And while the church later embraced the egg with its own symbolic meaning, the decorated egg’s origin story is far older, wilder, and more colourful than you might imagine.

As Easter is just around the corner, here’s a concise history of the easter egg, from the deep, symbolic meaning of centuries past, to today’s ultra-competitive market where, for a population of just under 70 million, UK consumers are buying almost 90 million chocolate Easter eggs each year, spending close to half-a-billion pounds. That’s a tough one to egg-splain…!

The history of decorating eggs predates Christianity by tens of thousands of years. Engraved ostrich eggs found in Africa date back 60,000 years, while ancient Egyptians, Sumerians and Mesopotamians used eggs in burial rites as symbols of rebirth from perhaps at least the third millennium BC.

This long-standing association with fertility and renewal likely influenced early Christian adoption of the egg as an Easter symbol, and over time they developed a spiritual importance in Christian tradition. One notable example tells of Mary Magdalene presenting Roman Emperor Tiberius with a red egg to proclaim Christ’s resurrection.

In many Christian communities, eggs held special significance during Lent – the forty days of fasting and reflection leading up to Easter. During the Middle Ages, eating eggs was sometimes prohibited during this period, which made them a much-anticipated delicacy after Lent ended. As a result, eggs became an exciting part of Easter celebrations, adding a sense of festivity to the holiday. Over time, this led to the practice of decorating the shells using bright colours and intricate designs to make them even more special.

There are stories of chocolate eggs being eaten at the court of King Louis XIV in France sometime in the late seventeenth or early eighteenth century, as well as an often-repeated anecdote about ‘the widow Giambone’ from Turin in Italy who started making chocolate eggs by pouring liquid chocolate into empty chicken egg shells.

Yet neither are backed up by solid evidence. What we do know for sure, is that in the 1870s, hollow chocolate eggs made their first appearance.

The history of chocolate Easter eggs in the UK began with the work of J.S. Fry & Sons, who created the first hollow chocolate egg in 1873. This innovation marked a significant change from earlier solid chocolate eggs, which were common in France and Germany but made with grainy and bitter chocolate.
Fry’s introduction of these hollow chocolate eggs was nothing short of revolutionary – an innovation that literally reshaped the confectionery landscape and ignited an epic rivalry between two of Britain’s chocolate giants – Fry and Cadbury.

Just two years later, in 1875, Cadbury unveiled their own take – solid dark chocolate Easter eggs filled with sugared almonds. Unlike Fry’s handcrafted creations, Cadbury’s eggs were designed for mass production. This breakthrough in manufacturing gave them a competitive edge, allowing their eggs to rapidly gain popularity. Fry may have pioneered the idea, but it was Cadbury’s industrial ingenuity that made chocolate eggs a seasonal staple.

Then, in 1905, Cadbury delivered another game-changer, the launch of milk chocolate eggs. Creamier and sweeter, these eggs captured the public’s imagination – and appetite – cementing Cadbury’s dominance in the market.

Where Fry had innovated, Cadbury perfected and scaled. Eventually, the two rivals joined forces in 1919, merging their expertise in a strategic alliance. This union of creative spark and production power paved the way for further innovations – among them, the development of fondant-filled eggs, which ultimately led to the creation of the iconic Cadbury Creme Egg in 1971.

Today, both standard Easter eggs and the Creme variety are enjoyed worldwide in countless variations and have become an absolutely core part of global Easter celebrations.

From intricately hand-painted eggs to playful games, there’s a remarkable variety of Easter egg traditions around the globe. Below are some of the most beloved and distinctive customs.

Pysanky | Ukraine

One of the most celebrated art forms in the world of Easter eggs is the Ukrainian practice of pysanky. Artisans apply intricate designs onto eggs with melted wax before dyeing them, typically layering multiple colours and patterns. The result is a vibrant mosaic of motifs – such as suns, stars, and stylised plants – thought to bring blessings of health, fertility, and good fortune.

Red Eggs | Greece

In Greece, eggs are traditionally dyed red to symbolise life and renewal. These red eggs, kokkina avga, are used during an egg-tapping game called tsougrisma, in which participants gently knock their egg against someone else’s chanting “Christos Anesti” (Christ has risen). The goal is to keep your own egg from cracking while trying to crack the other person’s. The one who remains with an uncracked egg at the end is said to have good luck for the coming year.

Pace Eggs & Egg Rolling | UK

Across parts of England and Scotland, there’s a long-standing tradition of decorating pace eggs (derived from “Pasch,” a Latin word for Easter) with bright colours and sometimes humorous motifs. After they’re hard-boiled, people hold egg rolling contests where they race their decorated eggs down hills to see which one makes it the farthest before cracking. If you fancy a ‘crack’ at egg rolling, some of the most popular competitions take place at Holcombe Hill in Bury, Avenham Park in Preston, at the castle moat in Penrith in Cumbria, Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh, and at the Penshaw Monument in Tyne and Wear.

Osterbaum | Germany

In parts of Germany, people often decorate leafless branches or small trees (sometimes even outdoor trees) with hollowed-out, painted eggs, ribbons, and other spring ornaments – a tradition known as the Osterbaum, or Easter Egg Trees. Decorating these branches has become a popular activity, where everyone contributes hand-painted egg ornaments to the display.

Egg Tapping | Eastern Europe

Similar to the Greek tsougrisma, variations of egg tapping contests can be found throughout Eastern Europe. In Bulgaria, for example, people select a brightly painted egg, then tap one another’s eggs to see which will remain uncracked the longest. The champion egg often symbolises good health and success for its owner in the year to come.

Sorpressa | Italy

In Italy, it’s common to give and receive large, hollow chocolate eggs that contain a hidden gift or sorpresa (surprise) inside. These can range from small toys for children to more elaborate items such as jewellery. The excitement of cracking open the chocolate to discover the treasure inside adds an extra layer of fun and festivity to the Easter celebration.

Giant Omelette | France

In the southwestern French town of Bessières, Easter Monday is celebrated with the cooking of a colossal omelette. Legend holds that the tradition was inspired by Napoleon’s visit to the region, where he was said to have enjoyed an omelette so much that he ordered the residents of the town to gather all their available eggs to prepare an enormous feast for his army. Today, a local group continues this custom by using more than 15,000 eggs to make a giant omelette in the town square, drawing crowds from near and far to share in the festive spirit.

Cascarones | Mexico

In Mexico, hollowed-out eggs are painted or decorated with brightly-coloured dye and then filled with confetti. During Easter, people joyfully crack the decorated cascarones over friends’ and family members’ heads, scattering confetti as a symbol of good luck and fun.

The Easter egg has evolved from a symbol of new life and renewal in ancient cultures to becoming a central element in festive celebrations. Through traditions such as egg decorating, chocolate eggs, and festive games, the Easter egg has become a symbol of celebration and remains a beloved and enduring part of Easter festivities all over the world.