Signs of Easter

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Easter is a time of fasting and feasting, of prayer and worship.

Christianity's major holy day, which falls on the same Sunday this year for Western and Orthodox Christian churches, is also surrounded by symbols. Here are some of the ones you'll be seeing this weekend and their meanings.



The universal sign of Christianity comes from Christ's crucifixion, or death on a cross, which Christians recall on Good Friday. They celebrate his resurrection from the dead three days later on Easter.

Some churches display three crosses at Easter, one for Jesus and one for each of the thieves killed with him.

Crosses also make appearances on Easter foods, such as hot cross buns and Russian Easter bread. The small sweet buns have white icing crosses while the bread can have crosses on the side and also Jesus Christ's initials imprinted on it.



Whether hard-boiled or made of chocolate, eggs are a familiar food or treat associated with Easter for several reasons.

Eggs represent new life, spring and fertility.

They also were a forbidden food for some Christians during Lent, the season leading to Easter. So people celebrated the end of the Lenten fasting period by decorating and eating eggs.

The egg also serves as a reminder for Christians of the tomb from which Christ arose on Easter, and some people see Easter egg rolls as symbolic of the stone being rolled away from Jesus' tomb.



The white trumpet-shaped flower is considered a symbol of purity, innocence and immortality. Many Christian churches are decorated with lilies, sometimes placed in the shape of a cross, for Easter.



Lambs were used for sacrifices, and the death of Jesus, who is called the "Lamb of God" in the Bible, was seen as a sacrifice for the sins of the world.

Like eggs and even crosses, lambs made of chocolate are often staples in Easter baskets.


New clothing

Whether it's a bonnet and dress or suit and tie, new clothes are often seen at Easter. The custom could go back to early Christians wearing new white robes to be baptized during services around Easter.

Sources: American Bible Society,,,