This is Easter weekend, one of the most holy times in Christianity. But it is also the holiday where we get to celebrate spring and the rebirth of, well, everything! While Easter can be a solemn time, it is also a joyful time...full of new life and new opportunities for growth. I recently ran across a few fun and interesting facts that I thought I'd share with you today, just to get your Easter weekend off on the right flipper...or foot, which is your case.
1. In 2007, an egg covered in diamonds sold for almost 9 million pounds ($12,658,770 US). The egg is special because every hour, a cockerel made of jewels pops up from top of the egg, flaps its wings four times, nods it head three times, and makes a crowing noise. Now that's a very special Easter egg!
2. The tallest Easter egg was made in 2011 in Italy. The egg stood 10.39 meters high (34.087 feet) and weighed 7,200 kilograms...15,873.28 pounds! It stood taller than a giraffe and was heavier than an elephant!
3. The Easter Bunny tradition made its way to the US in the 18th century. It is believed to have come from Europe where it was called the Easter Hare.
4. Jelly Beans were first manufactured in America by Boston candy maker William Schrafft. He ran advertisements urging people to send jelly beans to soldiers fighting in the Civil War. Who knew?
5. And speaking of jelly beans, Americans consume over 16 million jelly beans on Easter. That's enough to circle the globe three times over!
6. The traditional act of painting eggs is called Pysanka, which originated in the Ukraine. It involves using wax and dyes to color Easter eggs.
7. The name Easter owes it's origins to Eastre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess who symbolizes the hare and egg.
8. The exchange of eggs at Easter is a springtime tradition that dates back before Easter itself. In spring, eggs were given as a symbol of rebirth in many cultures.
9. In olden days, the pretzel (yep, the humble pretzel) was associated with Easter. The twists of the pretzel was thought tom resemble arms crossing in prayer.
10. Americans purchase more than 700 million marshmallow peeps during the Easter holiday, making it the most popular non-chocolate Easter candy.
11. Next to Halloween, Easter is the biggest candy-consuming holiday of the year.
12. 76% of people say they eat the ears on their chocolate Easter bunny first.
13. 90 million chocolate bunnies and 91.4 billion candy eggs are produced in the US each Easter season.
14. The average household spends $131 a year on Easter, or $14.7 billion in total.
15. Easter is the oldest Christian holiday and the most important day of the church year.
I hope you've enjoyed these interesting Easter facts. Perhaps, like me, you've learned a few new things. I'll be back here tomorrow with your April Calendar of Special Days. Until then, I wish you all
Peace (and lots of chocolate!)
1. In 2007, an egg covered in diamonds sold for almost 9 million pounds ($12,658,770 US). The egg is special because every hour, a cockerel made of jewels pops up from top of the egg, flaps its wings four times, nods it head three times, and makes a crowing noise. Now that's a very special Easter egg!
2. The tallest Easter egg was made in 2011 in Italy. The egg stood 10.39 meters high (34.087 feet) and weighed 7,200 kilograms...15,873.28 pounds! It stood taller than a giraffe and was heavier than an elephant!
3. The Easter Bunny tradition made its way to the US in the 18th century. It is believed to have come from Europe where it was called the Easter Hare.
4. Jelly Beans were first manufactured in America by Boston candy maker William Schrafft. He ran advertisements urging people to send jelly beans to soldiers fighting in the Civil War. Who knew?
5. And speaking of jelly beans, Americans consume over 16 million jelly beans on Easter. That's enough to circle the globe three times over!
6. The traditional act of painting eggs is called Pysanka, which originated in the Ukraine. It involves using wax and dyes to color Easter eggs.
7. The name Easter owes it's origins to Eastre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess who symbolizes the hare and egg.
8. The exchange of eggs at Easter is a springtime tradition that dates back before Easter itself. In spring, eggs were given as a symbol of rebirth in many cultures.
9. In olden days, the pretzel (yep, the humble pretzel) was associated with Easter. The twists of the pretzel was thought tom resemble arms crossing in prayer.
10. Americans purchase more than 700 million marshmallow peeps during the Easter holiday, making it the most popular non-chocolate Easter candy.
11. Next to Halloween, Easter is the biggest candy-consuming holiday of the year.
12. 76% of people say they eat the ears on their chocolate Easter bunny first.
13. 90 million chocolate bunnies and 91.4 billion candy eggs are produced in the US each Easter season.
14. The average household spends $131 a year on Easter, or $14.7 billion in total.
15. Easter is the oldest Christian holiday and the most important day of the church year.
I hope you've enjoyed these interesting Easter facts. Perhaps, like me, you've learned a few new things. I'll be back here tomorrow with your April Calendar of Special Days. Until then, I wish you all
Peace (and lots of chocolate!)
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