Easter card from 1908 Even amongst historians there are arguments about the origin of Easter celebrations although it does appear likely that as at Christmas, Christians adopted an existing pagan celebration for purposes of their own religion. Although there are other theories most people agree that Easter came from the Saxon Goddess Eostre. In Victorian times however there is no doubt that people regarded Easter as a time to think about the crucifixion of Jesus and then to celebrate his resurrection As most people attended Church or Chapel in rural Essex Easter was thus of great significance and would require attendance at church services. Easter follows the 40 days of Lent during which time people were required to spend time contemplating their religious lives and also to make some specific sacrifice. For the very poor people who made up rural Essex this sacrifice would have a real and negative effect on their lives. Once the sad day of Good Friday and the religious input on Easter Sunday  had been observed the period of Lent was concluded so Easter could take on the feel of celebration for the end of their sacrifice, their religious joy and the ending of the winter. Unlike some other festivals which concentrated on adults, Easter celebrations tended to centre on the family, especially children. There were events in most towns and villages allowing even the very poor to celebrate. Some Easter traditions enjoyed by Victorians
	Hot Cross Buns Hot Cross Buns were probably first used by Puritans immediately after the English Civil War. They certainly grew in popularity being mentioned in  Samuel Pepys and Dr Johnson's diaries. By Victorian times they were very popular product baked specially on Good Friday with the cross symbolising the crucifixion.  To view the Victorian nursery rhyme - Hot Cross Buns click here   Easter card from 1900 Easter Eggs and the Easter Bunny In the Saxon legend Eostre found a wounded bird in late autumn and used her magic to change it into a hare so that it could survive the winter. The hare was able to lay eggs and as a offering it decorated some of the eggs and gave then to Easter. In medieval times birds eggs were decorated and given to people at Easter. Given the rarity of hares Rabbits took the part of the hare and pictures of rabbits were also associated with Easter. German protestants started a tradition at Easter by encouraging their children to build nests so that the Easter Rabbits could lay decorated eggs in them on Easter day. The tradition of the Easter Bunny bringing eggs to children same to the UK in the late 1800's/Early 1900's. Victorians managed to invent a process that turned the chocolate drink made from cocoa beans into a hard edible chocolate. Once this process was established decorated real eggs became the chocolate eggs that we know nowadays. In some parts of the country festivities involving rolling hard boiled eggs down hillsides on Easter Monday developed although I have found no records of this in Eastern Essex.