Changes

With the emergence of Protestantism in the 16th century, Christian traditions, such as Lent, fasting, and celebration of Easter, began to change again. Liturgical decrees during the Easter period were dropped and various traditions developed. The key change was many Protestant denominations dropped Lent. This had more to do with separating themselves from the Catholic church than a rejection of the traditions themselves. However, Anglican traditions did retain Lent and Eastern Orthodox and Eastern churches in general have retained a form of Lent. One thing that remained consistent is the timing of when to celebrate Easter, even though the specific day celebrated was often not likely the day Christ would have resurrected. The eating of hot cross buns on Easter may have emerged in Britain during the time of Elizabeth the First, who banned buns shaped with crosses except during the time of Easter. This was a way to force people away from Catholic traditions. The bun, itself, was another likely pre-Christian food often eaten during the feasts associated with the spring equinox. <ref>For more on Protestant Easter traditions, see: Rosman, D.M. (2016) <i>From catholic to protestant: religion and the people in Tudor and Stuart England</i>. UCL Press.</ref>

In Russian Orthodox traditions, decorating and coloring eggs were also popular and were influenced by Christianity coming from the Middle East. However, Russian traditions elaborated on this practice. The Medieval and early modern traditions began to decorate eggs more elaborately. This tradition derived from creating jewellery in the form of eggs to celebrate Easter, with the precious items being symbolic of the importance of the resurrection symbolized through the egg shape. Artificial eggs of silver and gold, ivory or porcelain, and usually containing various jewels were created by craftsmen. Carl Fabergé in the 19th Century decided to decorate eggs and present them to the Russian Czar and Czarina as an Easter present. This has led to these eggs being famous museum pieces today.<ref>For more on Russian traditions on decorating eggs, see: Carter, Curtis. 1996. <i>Russian Art of the Nineteenth Century: Icons and Easter Eggs</i>. Haggerty Museum of Art</ref>

The use of candy or having candies in celebrating Easter likely connects to the festivals held in Easter. For Catholics, after fasting, the Easter celebration was often conducted with indulgence in food, drink and sweet foods. Before arriving in the New World, chocolate was not used. However, by the early 19th century chocolate used in the form of eggs began to appear in France and Germany. The Cadbury company in Britain also began creating chocolate eggs by 1875. These 19th century chocolates were usually made from dark chocolate and added with dragees. German, French and other European traditions may have influenced the idea to decorate chocolate eggs as well, where the Cadbury company also developed this practice in Britain and making it a distinctly Victorian style of celebration that later spread and is still with us. It was not until 1916, however, when the Bortz chocolate factory, in Pennsylvania, came up with the idea of the chocolate bunny. They even filled their bunnies with chocolate filling or cream, with that tradition having continued to be popular. <ref>For more on candy, chocolates and Easter, see: Darra Goldstein (ed.) (2015)<i> The Oxford companion to sugar and sweets</i>. Oxford ; New York, Oxford University Press, pg. 157. </ref>

Other traditions also relate to the egg roll. While the egg has pre-Christian traditions, the egg roll has become an important Christian symbol of the tomb of Jesus being opened. The egg roll was first celebrated by a sitting president in the White House grounds in 1872, celebrated by Ulysses Grant.<ref>For more on the first egg hunt in the White House, see: Dietz, U.G., Watters, S. & Mellins, T. (2009) <i>Dream house: the White House as an American home</i>. New York, Acanthus Press, pg. 105.</ref>