For most people, Easter feels like the official start of the spring. This is especially true if you practice classic Easter traditions. It is the best way to soak in the new season, complete with sunshine and warm weather. The best part is when you realize that we are finally done with winter. About time, am I right?
But like most holiday traditions, Easter customs have become commercialized. It is hard not to only think about Peeps and Cadbury Eggs during this time of the year. Do not get me wrong — I love both of those things. So much, in fact, that I recently whipped up a Peeps-infused cocktail recipe. Something tells me that a Cadbury Egg version would be just as delicious.
Yet, if you want to keep things authentic, do not forget the five things on this list. They are the most basic customs of the holiday. Each one significantly symbolizes fertility and rebirth, the main focus of Easter. Some practices, like traditional egg hunts and dyeing, have even been around for centuries. It is crazy to think how these customs have lived on.
Easter might be just around the corner, but there is still time to prepare. You might even be able to throw together some DIY Easter décor projects. Whatever you do, keep these five traditions in mind.
1
The Easter Bunny
Nothing says "Easter" like hanging out with the Easter bunny. And while some consider him as the Santa Claus of spring, its roots aren't based in Christianity. Regardless, the Easter bunny is a significant symbol of the holiday. Rabbits can reproduce quite a bit, so they symbolize fertility and new life.
2
Decorating Eggs
Egg decorating has been around for a long, long time. In fact, it's a 2,500-year old Persian New Year tradition. Christianity adopted the activity in the 13th century. And since eggs are a symbol of fertility, it makes perfect sense why it became an Easter tradition. Plus, when Mary Magdalene first saw Jesus after the Resurrection, an egg nearby turned red. It explains why red eggs are given to loved ones in the Eastern Orthodox church.
3
Gifting Baskets
From Halloween to Valentine's Day, most holidays involve some sort of gift-giving. But why do we give baskets on Easter? This tradition stems from the bird's nests that hold eggs. They're filled with lots of little gifts in celebration of rebirth and renewal.
4
Easter Egg Hunts
At its core, Easter is about life and death. The tradition of Easter egg hunts makes the holiday more approachable for kids. After all, what is a holiday without a game? The act of filling plastic eggs with candy is another way of gift-giving.
5
Decorating With Flowers
Come spring, nature is in full bloom. It's yet another representation of rebirth and life. Churches traditionally decorate with lilies, daffodils, and narcissuses. Red tulips are also common, as they represent the blood that Jesus shed.
