The story behind the egg hunting tradition
I come from a country, where we do not have the tradition of egg hunting in Easter and therefore I was wondering how this tradition started. I hope you find this interesting too!
The tradition of Easter egg hunting has its roots in ancient pagan spring festivals that celebrated the arrival of spring and new life. The egg was considered a symbol of fertility and new life, and was often used in these celebrations.
With the advent of Christianity, the egg took on new symbolism, representing the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christians began to decorate eggs with religious symbols and use them as gifts and decorations during Easter.
The tradition of Easter egg hunting may have originated in Europe, where children would search for hidden eggs on Easter morning. The eggs were often hard-boiled and dyed bright colors, and were hidden by parents or the Easter Bunny.
In the United States, the tradition of Easter egg hunting became popular in the late 19th century, with the introduction of the Easter Bunny. The Easter Bunny, a character from German folklore, was said to bring baskets of eggs and candy to children on Easter morning. Children would leave out carrots for the Easter Bunny, similar to how Santa Claus is left cookies and milk on Christmas Eve.
Today, Easter egg hunting is a popular activity around the world, enjoyed by children and adults alike. Whether it's searching for hidden eggs in the backyard, or participating in a community Easter egg hunt, the tradition of Easter egg hunting is a fun and festive way to celebrate the holiday.
For this special holiday, there are many fun DIY (do-it-yourself) activities that children can enjoy. Here are some ideas:
- Easter egg decorating: Children can decorate hard-boiled eggs with paint, markers, stickers, or glitter. They can also try dyeing the eggs using food coloring and vinegar.
- Easter egg hunt: Hide plastic eggs filled with candy or small toys around the house or yard. Make it more challenging by adding clues or riddles.
- Easter bunny ears: Cut out bunny ear shapes from paper or felt and attach them to a headband or hair clips. Children can decorate the ears with markers, stickers, or glitter.
- Easter cards: Children can make cards for family and friends using construction paper, markers, and stickers. They can write a special message and decorate the card with Easter-themed stickers or drawings. Check out our Little Genius Easter Activity Project, we include some Bunny Ears!
- Easter baskets: Children can create their own Easter baskets by decorating a paper or plastic cup with markers or stickers, or by weaving a basket out of construction paper. We have great ideas for age-appropriate easter basket fillers. Check our: Genius Boxes & Other Amazing toys!
- Easter wreath: Children can make an Easter wreath by cutting out egg shapes from construction paper and gluing them to a circular piece of cardboard. They can decorate the eggs with markers, stickers, or glitter.
- Easter chick crafts: Children can make Easter chick crafts using yellow construction paper, feathers, and googly eyes. They can cut out chick shapes, glue on the feathers, and add the eyes and a beak.
These are just a few ideas for DIY Easter activities for children. The possibilities are endless, so get creative and have fun! We have created a Little Genius Easter Activity Project with fun activities for 3+ YO! They are not just fun but they help the development of your little ones!
Happy Easter!