Easter is just days away, meaning come Sunday morning a certain special bunny will have dropped chocolate eggs to those who celebrate.
However, rabbits are hardly known for their ability to lay eggs, let alone chocolate ones, so how did this long standing tradition of the Christian holiday come to be?
Some may believe these symbols to be a marketing ploy formulated by sweet companies, while others suggest they exist to ensure children behave until they get their Easter treats.
But Easter traditions have evolved over time, from centuries old religious practices. Because of this, there are many stories that claim to offer a solid answer, but some theories come up again and again.
The first relates to a Pagan festival that would celebrate the spring equinox, which marked a period of renewal in ancient times. Meanwhile, another theory states that the iconic symbol stems from a children's story book.
The tradition of Easter eggs dates back thousands of years and while this aspect is tied back to Pagan traditions, they've also long served as a marker to lent's end - before they were made of chocolate.
Back in ancient times, Ostara was a Wiccan holiday that marked the beginning of the spring equinox. Its name stems from the Anglo-Saxon goddess named Eostre, who represented spring and new beginnings.
The festival symbolizes fertility, rebirth and renewal, as farmers would begin to plant seeds to produce bountiful crops. One of the most notable symbols of Ostara was the hare, likely due to their expectational ability to reproduce.
The animal represents fertility, and can sometimes fall pregnant for a second time while already expecting a previous litter. So, it's no wonder that they're associated with new life.
Another theory posits that it was a story written back in 1680 about a hare laying eggs told by German immigrants that wove the tradition. According to History.com, these settlers brought the story to America when they settled in Pennsylvania Dutch country, where they spun “tails” about Osterhas (the Easter hare).
Their children would make nests for the Osterhas, who would gift the good boys and girls coloured eggs on Easter Sunday. Eventually, the custom spread across the US and the fabled rabbit’s Easter deliveries evolved to include chocolate and other types of sweets and gifts.
The egg, like the hare, was also a symbol of new life to Pagans, while Christians would associate them with Jesus Christ's emergence from the resurrection.
In regards to decorating eggs, this custom has existed since the 13th century. It is said that eggs were forbidden to eat during lent, so people would paint them to mark the end of penance and fasting, then eat them on Easter as a celebration.
While all of the above theories make sense, it's possible that people have taken aspects from each of them over years to form the Easter customs we know today. Whatever you believe, it will give you something to think about as you tuck into your eggs this Sunday.
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