The Sweet Meaning Behind your Easter Candy

Few things are more delicious than that first bite of sugary, chocolaty goodness after a long Lenten fast. But there’s actually more religious symbolism in your children’s Easter confections than you may realize. Here’s a look at the meaning behind some of our favorite sweets.

Eggs are a perfect symbol of Easter’s promise. From early times, they have been used to symbolize the tomb, since the hard shell resembles a stone. As new life hatches from the egg, it symbolizes Jesus’ resurrection from the dead and the promise of eternal life for those who believe. What about the tradition of rolling eggs? It’s actually reenacting the rolling of the stone away from Christ’s tomb.

Decorative eggs are an ancient tradition in many cultures, as archaeologists have discovered engraved ostrich eggs dating back 60,000 years in Africa. The Christian tradition of dyeing eggs traces its roots to the early Mesopotamian church, where members dyed eggs red to commemorate the blood Christ shed for us at His crucifixion. The preferred method of Easter egg decoration is as diverse as the many nations and cultures that have adopted the tasty treat ever since.

But why is eating eggs associated with Easter? In earlier times, eggs were on the list of foods that Christians were not permitted to consume during Lent. That made eating eggs a delicious Easter treat as well as a frugal necessity – people had to use all the eggs their chickens layed throughout the Lenten season before they spoiled.

The idea of making chocolate eggs came from 19^th century Europe, where the first Cadbury Easter Eggs were made in 1875. Although there is not strictly a religious symbolism attached to chocolate, it’s difficult not to rejoice and thank God at that first bite after a long Lent.

Jelly beans have been around since at least the Civil War in a form that present-day kids would recognize and since near Biblical times for their sweet precursors. They found a lasting place in American Easter baskets thanks to their egg-like shape in the 1930s. (More than 16 billion jelly beans are made in the U.S. each year for Easter, According to the National Confectioners Association!)

Much like the once-humble candy cane has taken on new meaning at Christmas, these sugary treats have lately been given a much more impactful message thanks to the Jelly Bean Prayer. The origins of the poem are a bit cloudy, with two different women being credited with writing it – American Charlene Dickersonin 1997 and German Shirley Kozak in 1990 – with other folks claiming that versions of the poem have been around since the 1970s. Regardless of where it came from, you can easily find printable versions of the prayer online, making the message of the prayer a sweet addition to your family’s Easter traditions.

The Jelly Bean Prayer
Red is for the blood He gave.
Green is for the grass He made.
Yellow is for the sun so bright.
Orange is for the edge of night.
Black is for the sins we made.
White is for the grace He gave.
Purple is for His hour of sorrow.
Pink is for our new tomorrow.
A bag full of jellybeans
colorful and sweet,
is a prayer, is a promise,
is a special treat.
May the joy of Christ's resurrection
Fill your hearts and bless your life.