The main symbolism of Easter eggs is one of fertility and new life. In fact, there are a few indigenous Pagan religions and beliefs that include creation stories of the Earth being hatched from an egg.

In ancient Northern Europe, eggs were often used as part of fertility rites to help ensure a woman’s ability to conceive. In today’s modern Appalachhian mountains, there are the rural "grannywomen" (lay midwives and healers) who still use eggs to predict, with accuracy, the sex of an unborn infant by simply studying the rotation of an egg as it hovers by a string over a woman’s pregnant belly.

In many cultures, dyed eggs are presented as gifts that bring with them a prosperity wish for the coming year.
 

There is a particular folklore that states that Easter egg hunts first started during the “Burning Times” in Europe, when Christianity was on the increase. This led to the persecution of those pagans who followed the "Old Religion". Adults would hide the eggs and then have the children search for them as a part of a game.

However, it was believed that the Christian authorities would either bribe or follow the children so that they could innocently reveal where their eggs were found, so that the property owner could be arrested for being a heathen.

Every Pagan religion and culture strongly believed that they would inherit the characteristics of the food that they ate. This formed the basis for the earliest "blessings" before meals which was a way for Pagans to honor the life of the animal that had been sacrificed for the humans to sustain themselves. These practices eventually lead to what is now known as the Christian sacrament of communion.

Therefore, to understand the ancient Pagan religions, it is necessary to also understand that the food they chose to eat at certain times of the year had a direct association with their religion.

Creating candy coated Easter eggs and chocolate bunnies was not only a wonderful way to celebrate the arrival of spring, but also a great way to celebrate the symbols of the goddess and the season, while simultaneously consuming their strengths, such as fertility and vitality.

The Germans were the first to create the edible candy Easter egg during the 1800s. They made them out of sugar and pastry.

Eggs are still seen as a strong fertility symbol in Neo-Paganism today. In Salt Lake City, you can purchase a dozen ‘Pagan’ fresh eggs at the Spellbound store for $3.99. These brown, organic eggs are laid by free-roaming, organic-fed chickens. There are a quite a few ways in which you can color these eggs once you have hard boiled them. Simply read this Ostara article for information on natural egg dying.

Spellbound is located at 3804 S. Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah. Their telephone number is (801) 272-3898

Don't forget to read the other related articles: Is Easter a Pagan holiday?, The history of Pagan Easter traditions, and the Pagan Easter bunny.

Libbii Armstrong-Brown