What is an Easter Egg? The story and symbolism behind the longstanding Christian tradition that's become viral in pop culture

The Easter weekend is upon us, and it’s time to paint them eggs!


Easter, the longstanding Christian tradition, has popularly been associated with a basket full of eggs - colorful ones even! While eggs are a prominent and popular symbol of Easter, their association with the holiday is not ancient and has evolved, drawing from both pre-Christian traditions and Christian customs.

However, over the years, eggs have become an almost inseparable part of the Easter traditions. Along with their place in the basket, games like the Easter egg hunt have also found their way into the weekend of celebrations.

But what is the meaning of having eggs at the Easter celebrations ?



Here’s where you’ll find that out.


What is Easter?

Easter is a Christian festival that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, a central belief in Christianity. It is considered the most important and oldest festival in the Christian Church. The event is described in the New Testament, where Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion.

Religious significance: For many Christians, Easter represents the triumph of life over death and the hope of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.

Historical context: The New Testament recounts the events leading up to Jesus's crucifixion, his death, and his subsequent resurrection.

Biblical basis: The core belief of Easter is rooted in the biblical narrative of Jesus's resurrection, which is seen as a key event in the Christian faith.

Celebration: Easter is celebrated with various rituals, traditions, and customs, including church services, family gatherings, and sometimes even the giving and receiving of gifts, like Easter eggs.



What are Easter eggs?

An ‘Easter egg’ can refer to either a decorated egg, typically associated with the Easter holiday, or a hidden secret or feature within a product, like a video game, film, or software. In the context of Easter, it refers to the tradition of decorating or hiding eggs, often with symbolic meaning related to new life and the resurrection of Jesus. In the broader media context, it refers to a hidden message or feature, often a fan service, that adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the experience.


Carrying on with the tradition:

The tradition of Easter eggs is a blend of pagan and Christian beliefs, representing new life and rebirth. In ancient times, eggs symbolized spring and fertility, while Christians later adopted them to represent Jesus' resurrection. Eggs were also historically associated with Lent, a period of fasting before Easter, and were often decorated and stored before being enjoyed as a celebration.

In the context of Easter, Easter eggs are decorated eggs, often dyed or painted, that are associated with the spring holiday and the symbolism of new life and rebirth. These eggs are sometimes hidden for children to find as part of an Easter egg hunt.

In the context of media and technology, an Easter egg refers to a hidden feature or message designed to be discovered by users, often as a fun surprise or a callback for fans. For example, a secret room in a video game or a subtle reference in a film can be considered an Easter egg.


Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Ancient Pagan traditions: Eggs have long been associated with spring and fertility in various cultures, symbolizing the renewal of life and the coming of warmer seasons.

Christian symbolism: Christians adopted the egg as a symbol of Jesus' resurrection, with the hard shell representing the tomb and the eggshell breaking representing the emergence of Jesus.

Lent and the tradition of decoration: During Lent, Christians traditionally abstain from certain foods, including eggs. To mark the end of Lent and the beginning of Easter celebrations, people would decorate eggs and save them for consumption on Easter.

Red eggs and the Orthodox tradition: In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, eggs are often dyed red to symbolize the blood of Jesus shed on the cross. Christian missionaries then dyed the eggs different colors to represent different aspects of the Easter story. They used yellow to represent the resurrection, blue to represent love, and red to represent the blood of Christ. Sometimes, the missionaries would paint biblical scenes on the eggs and hide them.


Blending the tradition and pop culture:

In pop culture, an Easter egg refers to a hidden message, image, or feature embedded in software, a video game, a film, or other medium. While most of us know an Easter egg as a springtime chocolate treat, it's also a term used for hidden secret references placed in films, games or books for die-hard fans to spot.

The term originates from the practice of searching for decorated eggs during Easter, mirroring the joy of discovery and hidden surprises. These Easter eggs are often used to add a layer of depth and engagement, allowing creators to share inside jokes, references, or even subtle messages with a keen audience.


Digital Easter Eggs are considered jokes, features, or messages that are hidden by web developers and programmers on the website and software they build. They can vary in format and may include text, visual or audio effects, hidden pages, or unique features and can be as simple or as complex as you want them to be.

In films, a short scene may be a hidden reference to another film or pop culture. Fans enjoy discovering these easter eggs. Some of these are so complex and hidden that uncovering them can take a lot of time and effort.

Pop stars like Taylor Swift have contributed fairly heavily to the popularization of Easter eggs in modern culture, with the Songstress leaving Easter eggs in the liner notes of her albums. As per the fan theory, if Swift uses lowercases for all her lyrics, for example, you could see a hidden message in the letters that were capitalized (and she would sometimes reverse it, with all but the special letters capitalized).


Significance in pop culture:

Engagement and discovery: Easter eggs encourage viewers, players, or users to actively explore and discover hidden content, fostering a sense of wonder and intrigue.

Insider jokes and references: They often serve as subtle nods to other works, inside jokes among creators, or even subtle messages about the underlying theme or message of the piece.

Adding depth and complexity: Easter eggs can add a layer of complexity and meaning to a piece of media, rewarding those who take the time to look closer.

Community and sharing: The act of finding and sharing Easter eggs fosters a sense of community among fans, who can share their discoveries and interpretations.

Creative expression: Easter eggs are a form of creative expression, allowing creators to add a personal touch and share their passion with their audience in a unique way.


Easter egg treasure hunt :

An Easter egg hunt is a treasure hunt-like activity where children search for hidden decorated eggs (often chocolate, candy, or hard-boiled eggs). These eggs are typically hidden indoors or outdoors, and children collect them, often in baskets. Prizes may be awarded for various achievements like finding the most eggs or the largest/smallest egg.

However, instead of filling Easter baskets with traditional chocolate eggs, one can use alternatives like small toys, craft supplies, books, or even tickets for activities like a trip to the park. One can also use items like bath bombs, sidewalk chalk, or confetti eggs to fill the baskets. For a more eco-friendly option, paper mache eggs or wooden eggs can be decorated and used as basket fillers.

Here are the alternative Easter egg creations:

Wooden eggs: These make a beautiful and reusable display piece and can be painted or decorated.

Felt eggs: These are soft, cuddly, and can be filled with small treats or toys.

Marshmallow eggs: Jumbo marshmallows dyed with food coloring can be a fun and edible alternative.

Plastic eggs: These are a classic and reusable option that can be filled with candy, small toys, or even treats like Play-Doh.

Paper mache eggs: These are eco-friendly and can be decorated with paint, tissue paper, or even used as a carrier for smaller treats.