Easter Chocolate History
Easter is known as the most sacred Christian holiday of the year. It is the sacred celebration for Christ's rebirth.
There are many symbols associated with Easter- such as eggs, rabbits, chicks, and lilies.
Easter egg is considered as a symbol for new life. So during the fasting period, Christians gave up the eating of egg, and resumes it on the Easter day. To add glory to the festival, eggs are dyed up and colored and decorated with other fancy items. Chocolate eggs are most popular and favorite amongst children.
By the 1800's, Christians had adopted the symbol of the egg as part of the Easter festivities, representing the resurrection (or re-birth) of Christ following His crucifixion.
The first solid chocolate Easter eggs were created in Germany and France around 1800. After this came the formation of hollow chocolate eggs, and with modern machines that could mass produce the confections, over time they became one of the best-loved Easter confections around the globe.
These eggs were at first solid. The chocolate's texture was much different that it is today, therefore, much more difficult to work with. Once machines came into the equation, it was easier and more beneficial for the companies to hollow out their eggs.
By the 1960's, the Easter egg was well recognized and had become quite customary. From there it was just a matter of time before they created the chocolate birds and other assorted spring and Easter symbols such as the Easter bunny.
The Easter Bunny is a popular image of the holiday. Rabbits are known as the most fertile, as of which they are marked as important symbol of the festival.
To satisfy our worldwide sweet tooth requires the manufacture of ninety million chocolate Easter bunnies every year. Today's Easter baskets, filled with Easter gifts, are a chocolate-filled holiday tradition.