As every year for Easter, tons of chocolate flood our stores, homes, and gardens. But do we really know where this tradition comes from?
A festival with Pagan, Christian, and Jewish origins.
Apparently, the earliest records date back 5,000 years when the Persians at this time of year would offer each other eggs as a sign of fertility and renewal.
In Europe, to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ at the end of Lent, when until then, it was forbidden to eat eggs for 40 days, the faithful would gather to celebrate Easter and exchange the accumulated production of hens. In the Jewish religion, this festival celebrates the exodus of the Hebrews following their savior, Moses, and commemorating their first meal as free men when they sacrificed a lamb, a sacred animal in the Middle East: it’s Passover, the Jewish Passover.
Chocolate for Easter: where does it come from?
A symbol of renewal and life after death, Easter eggs therefore represent a strong emblem full of meaning for these ancient customs. Over time, people, especially from the bourgeoisie, gave each other increasingly elegant eggs richly adorned and sometimes even with surprises inside. It was around the 19th century that the idea of piercing the egg to empty it and fill it with chocolate emerged.
Now a commercial trend?
Between tradition and modernization, Easter still delights… and brands know how to take advantage of it! Indeed, each year, we see more and more chocolate ranges being marketed, found in all sorts, chocolates in the likeness of Disney or Marvel princesses and heroes, animals, and even celebrities. From red to green, from strawberry to pistachio flavors, chocolate giants such as the Italian Ferrero, the Swiss Lindt, or the French Cémoi are keen to continue benefiting from the chocolate trend.
In 2020, nearly *15,000 tons of chocolate* were sold just during the Easter period, making France one of the largest chocolate-consuming countries in the world.
The French have a fondness for Easter because this holiday unites generations and people, whether they are believers or not. As Easter approaches, it is an opportunity to gather around the same food that soothes our hearts and lightens our minds: chocolate.
