What is Easter egg?
[[File:Easter eggs - straw decoration.jpg|thumb|200px|Easter eggs]] An '''Easter egg''' is an [[Egg (biology)|egg]], eaten and used for decoration during the [[Easter]] holidays. The egg was a [[symbol]] of the [[Earth]] to celebrate [[Spring (season)|spring]].<ref name=govuk/> The oldest tradition is to use painted [[chicken]] [[Egg (biology)|eggs]], but today [[chocolate]] eggs wrapped in coloured [[Foil (metal)|foil]], hand-carved wooden eggs, or [[plastic]] eggs filled with [[confectionery]] such as chocolate is used. It was used by early [[Christians]] as a sign of the [[resurrection]] (rising from the dead) of [[Jesus]].<ref name=govuk>[http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/web/corporate/pages.nsf/Links/EA816EE5D35EB8258025714700320280/$file/History+of+the+Easter+Egg.pdf Warwickshire County Council: The history of the Easter egg] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080629024306/http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/web/corporate/pages.nsf/Links/EA816EE5D35EB8258025714700320280/$file/History+of+the+Easter+Egg.pdf |date=2008-06-29 }} Retrieved on 2008-03-17</ref> == Use == The use of painted and [[wikt:decoration|decorated]] Easter eggs was first recorded in the 13th century. The church did not let people eat eggs during Holy Week, but [[chicken]]s still laid eggs during that week. Because there was nothing else to do with the eggs, they were used for Easter decoration.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/176879/Easter-egg |title=Easter egg (social custom) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia |encyclopedia=britannica.com |accessdate=23 May 2010}}</ref> In modern times, [[chocolate]] eggs with a colorful wrapping are given to children to be eaten. In the [[United Kingdom]], children receive on average 8.8 chocolate Easter eggs every year.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.eggsateaster.co.uk/easter_facts.php |title=Eggs At Easter :: Easter Facts |work=eggsateaster.co.uk |accessdate=23 May 2010 |archive-date=28 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528161546/http://