Happy Easter

Easter is a festival and holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day of his burial after his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary in 30 AD.

Some of the foods which are eaten on Easter are carrot cake, hot cross buns, Easter ham, Easter bread, Easter biscuits and butter Lamb.

In Greece, the traditional Easter meal is mageiritsa, a hearty stew of chopped lamb liver and wild greens seasoned with egg-and-lemon sauce.

In Neapolitan cuisine, the main Easter dishes are the casatiello or tortano, a salty pie made with bread dough stuffed with various types of salami and cheese. Typical of Easter lunches and dinners is the fellata, a banquet of salami and capocollo and salty ricotta. Typical dishes are also lamb or goat baked with potatoes and peas. Easter cake is the pastiera.

In Russia, red eggs, kulich and paskha are Easter traditions. In Serbia, paretak are traditional Easter pastries.

In Ukraine, there are several traditional Easter foods including paska (bread) and cheesecake desserts.

Fun facts:

-The tallest Easter egg chocolate was made in Italy in 2011. It stood at 10.39 meters and weighed an astounding 7,200 kg.

-The term Easter gets its name from Eastre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess who symbolizes the hare and the egg.

-The exchange or giving of Easter eggs actually dates back to before Easter and the giving of eggs is actually considered a symbol of rebirth in many cultures.

-Americans consume more than 16 million jelly beans during this holiday. That is enough jelly beans to circle the globe not once, not twice, but three times.

-The Easter egg is said to symbolize and represent joy, celebration and new life.

-The idea of the Easter bunny giving candies and eggs is said to have originated in Germany during the middle ages.