A Victorian Easter
Have you ever wondered how Victorians celebrated Easter? Let’s go back in time to look!
With any festivals or celebrations, the main focus is children and as we all know by now (especially if you are a regular reader of my blog) the Victorians had a huge focus on family and children.
Children in Victorian times loved Easter and enjoyed Easter crafts just as much as children today. Children loved colouring eggs using berries and orange peel to help with the dye.
German Lutheran Tradition of Easter egg hunts
Let’s look at the brief history of the Easter egg hunt. The German tradition of the Easter egg hunt is linked to the Easter hare, which later becomes the Easter bunny. The first time we come across the floppy eared fluff ball is in 1682 when Georg Franck von Franckenau wrote an essay about Easter eggs.
Before the Victorian times the hare was a symbol of fertility and the Virgin Mary, and would often appear in paintings. The hare would bring coloured baskets of eggs for the children who had been good, and these would then be hidden around the garden or house for the them to find.
19th Century Easter egg hunts
Easter egg hunts became the norm in mainland Britain around the 19th century as family became a focus more than religion. Victorian children were soon introduced to the German tradition of hiding colourful eggs around their home.
Easter egg hunts in the Palace.
Easter egg hunts were introduced to the British Isles by the Germans in 1800.
A young Queen Victoria enjoyed Easter eggs hunts around the gardens of Kensington palace, thanks to her mother, The German born Duchess of Kent.
Princess Victoria wrote in her diary “Mama Did some pretty painted and ornamented eggs and we looked for them”.
This Easter tradition was carried on when Victoria and Albert married and had their own children.
Prince Albert would hide the eggs for their children to find on Maundy Thursday. These were more likely to be hard boiled eggs dyed in beetroot water or orange peel.
Novelty Eggs
Novelty eggs are thought to first appear around 1850. Queen Victoria (an avid diary keeper) writes in 1863 that baby Beatrice was very happy with a huge Easter egg that contained a doll.
However, it wasn’t until the 1870s that they became more popular, with Joseph Storrs Fry (a very successful owner of Fry and Sons, the first company to produce a solid chocolate bar) produced the first Chocolate Easter egg in the UK.
England’s own Easter customs
In the north of England and Scotland it had long been custom to decorate eggs and give them as gifts. The people of the north would also decorate their homes with them, which coined the phrase “peace egging”, meaning to decorate your home with eggs. This tradition went back centuries.
Egg rolling had been a tradition in the north of England for centuries, where children would come together to roll their newly decorated eggs and roll them down grassy hills or banks.
In Edwardian times the egg rolling tradition became popular once more and each year large crowds would gather to take part or spectate.
Chocolate Easter egg
As previously mentioned, the chocolate Easter egg in the UK was first made by Fry’s in 1873, Fry’s competitors copied the idea of the chocolate Easter egg and in 1875 Cadbury introduced their version of the Easter egg.
Other European countries had been making them for a while before 1873, these had been made of solid chocolate. Fry had figured out a way to make them hollow using moulds.
The first chocolate Easter egg moulds were made with the popular crocodile design which helped hide any imperfections.
Religious Services
The Victorians loved to celebrate most occasions and during Easter the religious aspect took a backseat during the Easter festival. During the festive period the Victorian decked out their church in splendour with floral arrangements, and gathered together for the family services.
Greeting cards
As soon as it became popular to send cards, the Victorians never missed an opportunity to send a card!
Easter was no different. Cards with spiritual meaning, such as lambs and bunnies or even a bible verse or two, were sent in their masses at Easter time.
Down below are some links for you, in hopes to spread a bit of Victorian Easter spirit this year. All links at no cost to you will generate a bit of commission for me.
Victorian Easter Greeting Cards
How about making them yourself? This is a fabulous idea for any of you crafty peeps out there.
Victorian inspired decoration for the home
This Victorian colouring book is a great way to keep the little ones happy.
Pre filler Eggs with toys great for Easter Eggs hunts
Victorian inspired mould following the traditional pattern, so you can try your hand at making your own.
Here is a lovely selection of chocolate Easter eggs.
