Easter decorations at Alexanderplatz, Berlin

© plainpicture/Christian Reiste

Easter Egg-stravaganza

These egg-shaped decorations hanging in Alexanderplatz, a public square in Germany’s capital city Berlin, are just one example of an Easter tradition that goes back centuries. While Easter is the most important festival in the Christian calendar, some of its symbols are of pagan origin and eggs have long been associated with new life and spring. Chocolate eggs were not really introduced until the 19th century, but decorating eggs is a tradition that goes back long before. England’s King Edward I reportedly bought 450 eggs to be decorated and distributed to his household as far back as 1290.

We Australians have our own traditions as well, like the beloved Easter Bilby - a concept born in the late 1960s, then popularised some 30 years later in an attempt to helps increase awareness of the animal’s dwindling numbers. But no matter how you celebrate Easter, we hope you have a great one!