Chocolate bunnies are the traditional Easter treat in the United States, but Italians prefer gifting chocolate Easter eggs – giant, extravagantly decorated or wrapped, and often holding a treat inside. The Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere presents some fun facts about these amazing sweet confections:

Eggs are very symbolic, and not just at Easter. Ancient Romans would bury an egg painted red to encourage a good growing season. Eggs also signify rebirth after the cold winter months. Chocolate eggs became popular in Italy after World War II, when people wanted to celebrate Easter and chocolate was an inexpensive treat.

Unlike small foil-wrapped chocolate eggs in the United States, Italian chocolate eggs are hollow, and can be very large. In the weeks before Easter, shop windows and coffee bars display elaborate eggs, typically wrapped in fancy foil or soft fabrics like silk and tulle. Italian supermarkets create large displays of hollow chocolate eggs targeted specifically to young children, wrapped in bright colors, with small toys inside.

The finest chocolate eggs are made by Italy’s artisanal chocolatiers and pasticcerias, using fine white, milk or dark chocolates, and sometimes flavored with hazelnuts. The fanciest chocolate eggs are elaborately hand-decorated with colored chocolate or royal icing. Sizes range from very small, all the way up to gigantic; the largest can cost hundreds of euros.

Most Italian Easter eggs feature a small trinket or toy inside, or pieces of the sweet confection torrone. The label will include the word sorprese (surprises). Local pasticcerias will sometimes let customers bring their own special gifts to hide inside chocolate eggs, including engagement rings, car keys, airline tickets, and more.

In 2012, an Italian chocolatier presented Pope Benedict XVI with a chocolate Easter egg almost seven feet tall and weighing about 550 pounds. In 2004, a shopping center in Turin made a chocolate Easter egg more than 18 feet tall and weighing 5,500 pounds.

The Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere is a not-for-profit organization that celebrates everything Italian by sharing stories such as this, and offering exceptional public programs: Language and cooking classes; art and photo exhibits; film festivals; opera luncheons and casino nights; Italian car shows and fashion shows; live concerts and theatrical performances; guest chef experiences and wine tastings; bocce and bingo (tombola); and much more. Casa Belvedere (house with a beautiful view) has established itself as a vibrant and buzzing cultural center in New York City. For more information, visit casa-belvedere.org.

source: The Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere

Easter eggs are special eggs that are often given to celebrate Easter or springtime.

The oldest tradition is to use dyed and painted chicken eggs, but a modern custom is to substitute chocolate eggs, or plastic eggs filled with confectionery

The custom of the Easter egg originated in the early Christians of Mesopotamia, who stained eggs red in memory of the blood of Christ, shed at his crucifixion.

The Christian Church officially adopted the custom, regarding the eggs as a symbol of the resurrection in 1610 A.D.

In Christianity Easter eggs symbolize the empty tomb of Jesus. Though an egg appears to be like the ‘stone’ of a tomb, – a bird hatches from it with life, so the Easter egg for Christians is a reminder that Jesus rose from the grave and that those who believe will also experience eternal life.

But the practice of decorating eggshells is ancient, pre-dating the Christian tradition of Easter.

Eggs, in general, have been a traditional symbol of fertility, and rebirth. Ostrich eggs with engraved decoration that are over 60,000 years old have been found in Africa. Decorated ostrich eggs, and representations of ostrich eggs in gold and silver were commonly placed in graves of the ancient Egyptians over 5,000 years ago.

Easter eggs have inspired the form of many similar objects – both precious and mundane, including chocolate eggs, monuments, and the famous Fabergé eggs.

Can you fill in the gaps in the sentences?

1. We …… Easter in March or April.

2. Eggs symbolize the empty …… of Jesus.

3. Eggs are a symbol of …… .

4. Jesus rose from the …… .

5. In Mesopotamia Christians painted eggs red in memory of the …… of Jesus Christ …… at the …… .

Key

1. celebrate

2. tomb

3. fertility/rebirth

4. grave

5. blood, shed, crucifixion