As Easter approaches, we’ll take a look at some interesting Easter-related stamps from 2026 and explore the origins of some traditions we often take for granted. Of course, we’ll mention eggs, lambs, and the Easter Bunny. Let’s dive in.
There is no doubt that Easter is the most important Christian holiday. However, as Christianity spread into new regions, it sometimes absorbed local customs along the way. Since this happened so long ago, many of these traditions now feel completely natural, and we rarely stop to ask where they came from. In this article, I’ll look at three familiar Easter symbols and explore their origins.
The Easter Bunny is one of the most recognizable symbols of Easter, and it is probably the part children love most. But what does a bunny actually have to do with Easter? The tradition is usually traced back to the German Easter Hare (Osterhase), not to early Christianity itself.
Easter 2026 - Easter designed by the graphic artist Ármin Benjámin Mandel
Hungary - 2026
It was documented in the German-speaking world as early as 1682, and later brought to America by German immigrants in Pennsylvania during the 18th century. In those early stories, it was a hare rather than a rabbit, and children would prepare nests for it to leave eggs in. Many people also connect the Easter Bunny to the pagan goddess Eostre or Ostara, but the evidence for that direct link is weak, so historians usually treat that idea with caution.
Next on our list are Easter eggs. Like the bunny, eggs were long seen as a symbol of fertility, new life, and rebirth, which made them easy to connect with both Christ’s resurrection and the arrival of spring. Over time, Christians gave this older symbol a new meaning, using the egg to represent the empty tomb and new life through the Resurrection.
Easter Eggs Hutsulshchyna
Ukraine - 2026
Another reason eggs became closely linked with Easter is that, in many places, people did not eat eggs during Lent, so they were saved, decorated, and later enjoyed as part of the Easter celebration. Because of that mix of older spring symbolism and Christian meaning, Easter eggs became one of the best-known traditions of the holiday.
The lamb is another well-known Easter symbol, but unlike the bunny or the egg, its roots are not really in old spring folklore. Its meaning comes much more directly from the Jewish Passover lamb and from the Christian image of Jesus as the Lamb of God.
Easter of Resurrection MMXXVI
Vatican - 2026
Because of that, the Easter lamb became a symbol of sacrifice, innocence, and salvation, making it deeply connected to the religious meaning of the holiday. Over time, it also became part of Easter meals and decorations, so today it works both as a religious symbol and as a familiar part of Easter tradition.
Easter 2026 - procession of confraternity brothers in traditional attire
Croatia - 2026
Today, we’ve discussed three well-known Easter symbols and their roots. While you wait for the next article, please take a look at some of our previous holiday-related topics.
Holidays on Stamps: Independence Day (USA)
Holidays on Stamps: Thanksgiving (USA)
Holidays and Philately: Christmas Traditions
Holidays and Philately: Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year: 2022 - Year of the Tiger
Chinese New Year 2024: Year of the Dragon
Chinese New Year 2025: Year of the Snake
Chinese New Year 2026: Year of the Horse
