Your quick and easy guide to traditional Easter treats

LUTHO PASIYA lutho.pasiya@inl.co.za

MANY Easter food traditions go back hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Below we look at the significance of some of the foods we eat to celebrate Easter.

According to Alimentarium, a food museum, in the Christian tradition, Easter brings an end to the Lent fast with a series of rich dishes. Lamb commemorates the sacrifice, and resurrection of Christ. Decorated eggs and chocolate rabbits came over time.

What does food portray?

The Easter meal, which follows the religious ceremony, is often eaten at midday, bringing the long fast of Lent to an end.

Lamb, which commemorates Jesus’ sacrifice, is often served as the main course, as a leg, roast or stew. The egg is a symbol of mourning in Jewish Passover, but represents life and rebirth in the Christian Easter celebration. According to an orthodox legend, we owe the first Easter egg to Mary Magdalene as she is said to have presented herself before Emperor Tiberius in Rome, with an egg in her hand, requesting the condemnation of Pontius Pilate. Legend has it that as she recounted the events surrounding Jesus’ death, the egg turned red, thus convincing the Emperor of the resurrection of Christ.

Traditionally, eggs are hardboiled, then painted or decorated with Christian symbols such as the cross. As for the rabbit, its connection with Easter is rooted in folklore – Germanic legends relate that on Easter morning, a rabbit laid coloured eggs.

Here are the meanings behind some of your favourite Easter eats.

Chocolate eggs

The tradition of painting eggs has been around for thousands of years, but it was not until the 17th and 18th centuries that egg-shaped toys (often filled with sweets) were given to children at Easter. No one knows who invented the first chocolate egg, but they first started appearing in the early 19th century in France and Germany. Reports reveal that the egg has long symbolised new life, birth, purity, fertility, and regeneration.

Simnel cake

Fruitcake associated with Christmas but its Easter version, the simnel cake, is less well known. It is made with similar ingredients, including raisins, sultanas, and lemon zest ad plenty of marzipan. The cake, eaten since medieval times as part of a symbolic ritual is decorated with 11 (the apostles without Judas), or 12 marzipan balls (to include Christ).

Easter bunny

The egg-bearing rabbit on Easter Sunday has a long history. It was the symbol of Eostre or Ostara – the pagan Germanic goddess of spring and fertility. It is believed this pagan symbol merged with Christian traditions in 17th century Germany. Thus, the Christian holiday of Easter, which celebrated the resurrection of Jesus, became superimposed on pagan traditions that celebrated rebirth and fertility.

Picture: Pexels