History of th Easter Basket

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Easter Basket

As with most of Easter, the Easter Basket is combination of a lot of different traditions. In this case starting with the tradition of taking the early growth of Spring to the temple as a sacrifice (or to be blessed depending on the god involved) so that the year’s crops will grow well. The sacrifice would be carried in a basket which itself would be significant.

This was adopted and adapted by the Roman Catholic church so that the crops would be taken to the church to be blessed, and hence hopefully guarantee a fruitful harvest.

Since eggs were the Spring representation of fruitfulness they too would be carried to the church, or the temple, to ensure fruitfulness within the family, as well as the animals.

The basket itself was particularly popular in central and eastern Europe.

In some traditions the Easter Bonnet was inverted to become the Easter Basket.

In modern times the basket has become identified with the Easter Bunny, who brings the eggs to give to the children ... the bunny comes from Eastern Europe as well. The Easter Basket also represents bountiful rewards after the Christian tradition of Lent. So it’s quite a mix up.

The modern Easter Basket is a commercialised thing, pretty much like everything else and you can buy them ready-made with lots of treats inside. However creating ones own Easter Basket is something that everyone can do – even if you don’t stretch as far as weaving it from reeds, you can always decorate a shop-bought one in yellows and greens, fill it with paper strips, representing grass or straw, and fill it with treats for family and friends.