Why give chocolate eggs at Easter?
Throughout history, Easter time has been celebrated by cultures all over the world as a period of fertility, renewal and rebirth.
Today, the Christian holiday known as Easter represents the death and resurrection of Jesus, yet for centuries previously, pagan festivals were held at this time of year to herald the start of spring.
In this blog, we’re cracking open the symbol of the egg to explain why it’s so relevant to this season, and more importantly, what it has to do with chocolate!
Easter’s pagan roots
Many modern symbols of Easter, including the egg and the bunny, have their roots in paganism. Rabbits were symbols of sexual potency and fertility, while the delicate egg represents the beginning of new life and was often thought to have magical powers.
In pagan times, eggs would be buried under the foundations of buildings to ward off evil spirits, brides would step on an egg before crossing the threshold of their new home for good luck, and eggs were gifted to young couples as blessings of fertility.
The word ‘Easter’ can also be traced back to the names of ancient fertility goddesses, for whom festivals were held at the time of the spring equinox. These include the Germanic goddess Ēostre, the Norse goddess Ostara, the Phoenician goddess Astarte, and the Assyrian goddess Ishtar.
Giving eggs at Easter
For centuries, people have decorated and gifted real eggs to friends and family as blessings for the spring equinox and later for Easter week, which were sometimes painted red to signify the blood of Christ – a tradition which still continues to this day.
The Victorians adapted the custom by developing satin-covered cardboard eggs which they filled with Easter gifts and chocolates, and at around the same time, the first chocolate eggs began to appear in Europe. Yet without milk chocolate or a process for moulding hollow eggs, these first chocolate Easter gifts were solid, dark and a far cry from the Easter eggs we know and love today.
The first hollow chocolate egg was produced by British chocolatiers JS Fry & Sons in 1873. Two years later, milk chocolate was invented by the Swiss chocolatier Daniel Peter, and Cadbury began producing Easter eggs on a large scale. Chocolate eggs – often wrapped in brightly coloured foil, reminiscent of the Victorians’ shiny satin egg coverings – have been a favourite Easter gift ever since.
Chocolate Easter eggs today
It’s estimated that we buy and consume around 80 million Easter eggs each year in the UK, and that the average child will consume 8 eggs and around 8,000 calories over Easter. Yet most conventional chocolate eggs are filled with additives, preservatives, artificial flavourings and LOTS of sugar, and most come packaged in single use plastic. That’s on top of the concerning claims that broke this week of Cadbury’s using child and slave labour, and sadly still exists within the supply chains of many major chocolate brands today.
So if you’re going to buy chocolate eggs this Easter, why not choose fair trade and ethical ones, or you could even consider making your own. Look out for our Easter fertility ritual later this month, which includes a recipe for delicious homemade Easter eggs using pure organic Ritual Cacao.
Whatever your plans, we wish you all a happy and abundant Easter!
Love from Rebekah and the Ritual Cacao team x
Our Cacao is; wild-harvested, non-gmo and no additives, fair-trade, gluten free and vegan! If you’re unsure which Cacao to go for, try our Taster Pack below or pick up your very own Cacao goddess this Easter….
A beautiful combination of ceremonial-grade cacao, handcrafted artistry and meaningful ritual.
The Divine Goddess Bundle pairs your choice of our pure ceremonial-grade cacao with the IxCacao Goddess, a unique handmade statue created to honour cacao and the rituals surrounding it.
With her outstretched hands, the IxCacao Goddess is designed to hold cacao beans, Chunks or Crumbles, making her a beautiful addition to an altar, shelf or sacred space.
Each statue is individually handmade in Glastonbury by local artist Kishi Bay Childs, using a combination of clay, iron oxide, stoneware, terracotta and sand. No two are exactly alike, making every Goddess a truly unique piece.
Thoughtfully brought together, this collection celebrates both the cacao-growing communities we work with in Ecuador and independent makers here in the UK.
Whether you're adding to your own sacred space or choosing a meaningful gift for someone special, the Divine Goddess Bundle is something to treasure for years to come.
What's Inside
One handmade IxCacao Goddess statue (RRP £90) - Individually crafted by Kishi Bay Childs in Glastonbury. Each piece is unique, designed to hold cacao and complement your sacred space.
Your choice of Ritual Cacao (RRP £25-£85) - Select your preferred cacao origin, format and size, from traditional Chunks and our signature Bullion Bar to convenient Crumbles or portioned Pods.
Save between £5 and £16 compared with purchasing the items individually.
Why You'll Love It
A one-of-a-kind handmade IxCacao Goddess statue.
Beautiful for altars, ceremonies and sacred spaces.
Choose the ceremonial cacao that suits your personal ritual.
Support cacao-growing communities in Ecuador and independent artists in the UK.
A meaningful gift that combines exceptional cacao with lasting craftsmanship.
Portion Guide
Our suggested daily serving is 20–25g of cacao.
200g: Approximately 8–10 daily servings.
250g Pods: Approximately 10–12 daily servings.
500g: Approximately 20–25 daily servings.
1kg: Approximately 40-50 daily servings.
For a ceremonial experience, you would need a larger serving of approximately 40–42g.
Choose your preferred cacao format and size from the options below. All cacao is Ecuadorian unless otherwise stated.
Looking to discover the difference between our ceremonial-grade Ecuadorian and Peruvian cacao?
The Taster Bundle brings together our two beautiful cacao origins, giving you the opportunity to explore their individual flavours and find the one you love most.
Our Ecuadorian cacao is light, smooth and refined, while our Peruvian cacao offers a deeper, richer and earthier flavour.
Both are 100% pure ceremonial-grade cacao, carefully sourced and perfect for bringing a little more intention into your daily routine.
Available in two sizes, so you can choose how much you'd like to explore.
What's Inside
200g Taster Bundle - £48
Individual RRP £53 | Save £5
200g Ecuadorian Cacao Chunks
200g Peruvian Cacao Chunks
500g Taster Bundle - £85
Individual RRP £93 | Save £8
500g Ecuadorian Cacao Chunks
500g Peruvian Cacao Chunks
Why You'll Love It
Discover the difference between our Ecuadorian and Peruvian cacao.
Explore two distinct flavour profiles.
Find the origin that suits your personal taste.
Choose between two sizes to suit your cacao needs.
A lovely introduction to pure ceremonial-grade cacao.
Portion Guide
Our suggested daily serving is 20–25g of cacao.
200g Taster Bundle: Approximately 16–20 daily servings in total.
500g Taster Bundle: Approximately 40–50 daily servings in total.
For a more ceremonial experience, you may prefer a larger serving of approximately 40–42g.
Choose between 200g or 500g of each cacao included in your collection.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_egg
https://www.chocolatetradingco.com/magazine/features/history-chocolate-easter-eggs
https://www.statista.com/chart/3372/easter-in-the-uk-by-the-numbers/
https://moralfibres.co.uk/best-fair-trade-ethical-easter-eggs/
https://www.channel4.com/programmes/cadbury-exposed-dispatches/on-demand/71999-001