Were the original Easter eggs chocolate?

Painted eggs and eggs for the Czars

In Armenia
According to custom, on Easter Sunday, after mass, each one receives a red egg and a Cheureg, the traditional brioche. Families and friends get together and organize the egg battle.

In Austria
When bunnies lay eggs at Easter... This isn't the opening line of a fairy tale, but rather a charming tradition that delights all Austrian children on Easter morning.

In Cyprus
After avgolemono, a rice and chicken soup thickened with egg and lemon, Cypriots like to cook souvla - large pieces of marinated lamb or pork shoulder on the bone cooked slowly on a spit.

In Corsica
At Easter you won't find lamb here, much less ham, but rather tender roast kid.

In Czech Republic
When it comes to Easter, Czechs stick to what they know best – their food traditions. Every day offers a different dish to sample.

In Finland
The most famous dessert is mämmi, a recipe that dates back to the Middle Ages, when it was prepared in a bark container.

In France

- In Alsace
Easter means the arrival of asparagus, morels and crayfish. It brings suckling lamb and new vegetables... Emile Jung shares some thoughts for Easter and for spring in the kitchen. On the menu: Baeckeofe and hop sprouts.

- In Bayonne
Plan to attend the ham fair, a food lover's delight from Holy Thursday to the Eve of Easter.

In Germany
Though Easter eggs are most often brought by the Easter bunny, he is sometimes replaced by the hare. But in Tyrol you'll find a chicken and in the Hanover region a cuckoo… a rooster in Bavaria, and fox in Thuringia and Westphalia.

In Great Britain
Aside from eggs and chocolate bunnies, the best-known English Easter food is probably the hot cross bun.

In Greece
A braided bread called tsoureki, decorated with red eggs, is served when the clock strikes midnight to announce Christ's resurrection.

In Italy
Neapolitans resurrect their love for sweets with Pastiera, a pie filled with ricotta and candied fruit, while the Milanese serve bread in the shape of a dove.

In Poland
Experience the age-old tradition of paczki, jam-filled doughnuts, just before Lent begins. 

In Portugal
No "Pascoa" would be authentic without the famous "folar," a bread spiced with cinnamon and fennel seeds and garnished with hardboiled eggs. 

In Russia
Easter is by far the most important feast in the Russian Orthodox Church. Many of the symbols of this celebration are already familiar, like the gorgeous folk-art Easter eggs, kulich and pashka.

In Spain
You should definitely try torrijas at Easter, a kind of french toast fried in olive oil, Mona de Pascua (Easter cake), Pestinos (fried pastries), rosquillas (donut), Leche frita (Fried milk)...

In Sweden
On Holy Thursday, the famous "Easter witches" arrive...

In Ukraine
The Easter basket is a central part of Ukrainian Easter celebrations. In it you'll be sure to find decorated eggs and paska (a rich Easter bread), among other things.

In Canada and in the US
For America, it's not the hard-boiled eggs or chocolate bunnies that make the family look forward to Easter with eager anticipation - it's the ham.

In Guadeloupe
Here white land crabs, the pride of Guadeloupean cuisine, are made into matoutou. 

In Mexico
For most Mexicans, fish and shellfish are consumed in large quantities.

The tradition of serving a whole lamb at Easter was current until the time of France's Louis XV. Alexandre Dumas gave a recipe for Agneau pascaline à la royale. " The boned trussed lamb was stuffed with its own meat, hard-boiled eggs, bread crumbs and herbs, all seasoned with four spices. It was roasted whole and served simply with a ragoût of truffles, ham sauce or pistachio sauce.

Easter lamb
Ham
Chocolate

Traditional Easter Recipes around the world