History of Easter Decor & What to Buy Today
What comes to mind when you think of Easter decor? Probably bunnies, eggs, carrots, and candy. Maybe palm leaves, or lilies. Throughout history, the imagery and decor of Easter have transformed. Easter is a holiday to celebrate Christ’s resurrection. However, most well-known symbols and decorations for Easter are not biblical. The Easter bunny, one of the most well-known symbols of Easter, came to America through the stories of German immigrants. Another common Easter symbol, the decorative egg, is thought to date back to the 13th century. In more recent years, Easter candy became a symbol as well.
Because this is a design blog, I’ve curated some of my favorite decor items for each symbol. Keep reading to find out what I would buy, and where to get them, and how to style them!
While the Bible doesn’t speak of an egg-laying bunny, it has become almost synonymous with Easter. Any big box store you go to this time of year can almost always be plastered with these adorable bunnies on the seasonal aisles. Experts are still unsure of the exact reason for the bunnies being a popular representation, but many believe it has to do with these mammals being known for rapid procreation. In ancient times, bunnies were a symbol of new life and fertility.
Some sources believe the first Easter Bunny arrived along with German immigrants in the 1700s. These immigrants settled in Pennsylvania and brought with them the story of an egg-laying bunny named “Osterhase.” The immigrant kids would make nests for the bunny to lay its decorative eggs in. Soon after, the tradition became popular throughout the rest of the U.S., and the visits became known for chocolates, colorful candy, and small treats.
As far as decorating with bunnies go, I believe there’s a fine line between cute and cheesy bunny decor. In order to avoid the latter, I look for bunnies that are a solid color or texture. If there must be a pattern, I’ll look for something more traditional like blue and white chinoiserie. I also like to avoid anything with phrases or sayings. I’d rather “show” the Easter symbolism, rather than “tell.”
For example, I love this tea towel with a single bunny in a chinoiserie pattern. I think this does a great job of symbolizing Easter, without too much distraction. I’m a sucker for tea towels regardless, so I think this would add a fun pop to any kitchen. And let’s be honest, that’s where you’ll spend the majority of Easter, in the kitchen cooking! Another bunny decor item I love is this gold bunny tray. Standing at only 5.5” tall, I think a handful of these guys would be adorable scattered throughout your home on tabletops to hold candies. Finally, I love these green bunny statues because they do a great job of symbolizing Easter, without being too busy. The faux moss material conveys a springtime feel without being too obvious. These look great as tabletop decor, on mantles, or on bar carts.
While Easter is a Christian holiday, Easter eggs are associated with Pagan traditions. Such festivals have been linked to eggs, which are symbols of new life. For Christians, eggs are representative of Christ’s resurrection. Some sources suggest that the act of decorating eggs goes back to the 13th century. One suggestion for why we decorate eggs is because eggs were once considered off-limits during Lent. Therefore, people would decorate them instead and use them to symbolize fasting coming to a close.
Every year my mom and I decorate real eggs. We make such a mess but have so much fun. While hard-boiled eggs are fun to decorate, they can be messy if you try to use them as decor in your home. I’ve come across these Mackenzie Childs decorative eggs and I think they would be a stunning addition to any home. My advice would be to style a handful of these in a decorative bowl. This could be used as a centerpiece for your dining table or placed on a coffee table for a more casual look.
You may have seen white Lilies used as decorations in homes or churches during Easter time. For Christians, white lilies represent Christ’s purity. This is due to the flower which begins as hidden bulbs underground, and then transforms into beautiful flowers. This is said to represent the rebirth of Christ.
Besides decorating your home with fresh Lilies, I’ve found another way to incorporate such symbolism in your home. I think this Lilies coffee table book would be perfect in any home throughout springtime, while being a subtle nod to Easter.