Easter eggs, chocolate bunnies, and the arrival of spring–that’s what Easter seems to be all about. Suddenly, stores come alive with spring colors and Peeps. But our world has shrouded the true origin of Easter in multitudes of candy and bunnies and chicks. Easter has a deeper meaning than a bunny next to a basket of eggs. However, dying eggs and eating spring themed food does make the holiday seem more festive!

Easter is not all about springtime and pretty eggs and candy. There is much more to the true origin of Easter than that.  Easter originated as a Christian holiday, and celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, after He was in the tomb for three days. Easter is thought of as the most important holiday on the Christian calendar. Over time, traditions such as Easter egg hunts and legends such as the Easter bunny have been added on to Easter, making it the holiday we know today. “I think Easter was the day Jesus was born, or maybe when He died? I don’t know,” said seventh grader Andie Wolff. Candy and eggs are fun, but they distract many people from the real reason for Easter. But where did such things as the Easter bunny and Easter eggs come from? The Easter Bunny legend branched off of an idea thought up in the 1600s. ‘Oschter Haws,’a German legend about a bunny who delivered eggs to children, was brought to America through German immigrants. The story exploded, and the eggs became painted and stuffed with candy and chocolate.

Easter has been expanded so far from where it originally started–a day to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Now, Easter seems to revolve around candy. Easter is the second biggest candy-consuming holiday besides Halloween. An estimated $14.7 million is spent on Easter each year in the U.S. However, it seems as though the true meaning of Easter is slipping away. Only 12 out of the 50 states in the U.S. recognize Good Friday as a holiday. Good Friday is the Friday before Easter, commemorating the death of Jesus. However, no one would say no to a giant Easter egg. The biggest Easter egg ever made was about 34 feet tall, and was made in Italy.

Easter’s history is similar to Christmas’s. Both originated as Christian holidays, and over the years, both had different traditions and customs added to them. Both have become commercialized, and the focus of the holiday has strayed from the true, original reason for the holiday to candy and games. However, this is simply the world we live in, changes must occur for the best. “For Easter, we eat lots of candy and go to church. The true meaning of Easter is to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus,” said seventh grader Sydney Miller. Easter is a fun way to spend time with family and friends, and is a special holiday from the Easter egg hunts to the multitudes of candy to the real reason for the holiday. No other holiday brings history back to life better than Easter.