What do bunnies and eggs have to do with Easter? Good #FridayFunFacts

Have you ever wondered what chocolate, eggs and bunnies have to do with Easter - a Christian holiday? Well, much like Christmas, Easter is a mix of many cultures. For starters, the name "Easter" comes from Eastre, an Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring who is represented by the hare and the egg (both symbolised new life long before Christ rose again).

So what about chocolate? Well, it was a Ukranian tradition to decorate any eggs laid in the week leading up to Easter and give them to children as gifts. Then in the 19th century, the French (being French) decided to make eggs out of chocolate and this tradition caught on like wildfire.

Now for the easter egg hunt. The protestant church reformer, Martin Luther, is said to be the first person who played such a game with his family. For some christians, including Luther, eggs represent the tomb Christ's body was placed in. Luther hid the eggs and let the children go and look for them as the women in the story went looking for Jesus's body. 

A popular Easter tradition in the USA is to dye the feathers of baby chicks many colours. About half of Americans believe this practise is wrong.

Once the chocolate wrappers are littering the floor and everyone's feeling a little ill, there is always the other kind of "easter egg" - the two words have become a commonly used term in gaming and popular culture. One of these "easter eggs" is a treat or secret that is inconsequential to the main storyline, but really rewarding if you're observant enough to pick it up.

Happy Easter everybody!