Victorian Era Easter Traditions

By Ashley Jensen

The Amelia Earhart Birthplace house was built during the Victorian Era and would have been decorated according to the style of the time. Likewise, the Otis Family would have upheld traditions stemming from the cultural landscape of the time, different from what we typically associated with the Easter holiday today.

Prior to the Civil War, Easter was not widely celebrated in the United States like it is today. Protestantism was the majority religion in the country, and the holiday was more closely associated with Papist (Catholic) ideas (1). After the war, Easter slowly evolved to be a day in commemoration for the fallen soldiers for some communities, and, in other communities, the holiday took hold with the revival of traditions originating from Europe (2). These traditions, such as the Easter bunny, egg decorating, and debutante balls, merged with American culture to create new traditions, including Easter egg trees and baked good like hot cross buns.

Due to the religious disagreements between the holiday's Catholic origins and its Protestant objectors, coupled with the emphasis on American culture after the Civil War, the celebration of the holiday became distinct from its religious roots, and, oftentimes, secular celebrations were favored their religious counterparts (3). It is around this time that the annual attendance of Church services, solely on Easter, became widely practiced. It also became a chance for people to demonstrate social status through elaborate and decorative attire, as well as large tithings, often amounting to around $80. To put this into perspective, $80 in 1881 is roughly equivalent to $2,500 in 2025 (4). Easter bonnets became a tool to also demonstrate wealth and social status for women, and, for men, neckties were the fashion (5). New clothes, bonnets, and neckties were not only displayed at church, but also in the traditional Easter parades that many towns and cities sponsored.

Spring Bonnets, Der Bazar, 1882 -- The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Debutante balls were a tradition that originated from Europe and were practiced among high society. These balls consisted of one or multiple families presenting their daughter, who has come of age, as ready for courtship and marriage. It is uncertain whether Amelia's family participated in this tradition because it was a less common tradition in America than it was in Europe (6).

As with all holidays, a major component was the food. During the Victorian Era, elaborate meals, often with poultry or ham were the norm. Desserts like angel food cake, hot cross buns, and simnel cake were also common (7). Hot cross buns and simnel cake both held religious symbolism. The cross on the buns symbolized Jesus's cross and resurrection (8). Simnel cake, a spring fruit cake, was commonly decorated with eleven balls of marzipan to symbolize the eleven apostles after Judas' betrayal (9). Egg dishes were also popular so that the eggs used during egg hunts and rolls were not wasted (10). Egg rolls took place along the main street of a town, and were a race to see who could push their egg with a wooden spoon across the finish line first (11). Finally, similar to today, chocolate eggs and bunnies were also popular and enjoyed throughout the season (12).

Simnel Cake-- Sweet tastes from the "Victorian Book of Cakes"

Decorations for a Victorian Easter were light in color and elaborate, often consisting of chicks, bunnies, decorated eggs, baskets full of pastel-colored flowers, and light colored ribbons, often pink, purple, yellow, or blue. Decorating eggs in light colors and painting them with elaborate patterns was another typical tradition; the eggs were then used to decorate homes and for egg hunts (13). The Easter bunny became commercialized as well throughout this period, assuming a Santa Claus-like role during the Easter season (14). Children believed that the Easter bunny would hide colorful eggs for good children to find on Easter Day. This tradition evolved into the decorating of an Easter tree, similar to the more recognized Christmas tree. Trees would be decorated with candles, eggs, and colored beads, and then topped with an Easter bunny (15).

Finally, one of the most characteristic traditions of the Victorian Era was the sending of greeting cards (16). The establishment of a federal postal system in the late 1700s created a rush in the sending of greeting cards in the 180ss. Oftentimes, greeting cards were designed to fit the holidays, and Easter was no exception. Cards included decorations of chicks, bunnies, eggs, baskets of flowers, and other Easter symbols. Heartfelt messages also lined the front and back, and cards were commonly sent to close friends and family members who people were unable to celebrate with in person (17).                                                      

Easter Card-- The Postal Museum

The Easter season during the Victorian Era demonstrated the integration of American culture into a religious holiday, the showed both the revival of European traditions and the development of new ones Clothing, parades, debutante balls, food, decorations, egg hunts and rolls, and the sending of greeting cards were all major components of what Amelia and her family would have experienced during the Easter season.

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Endnotes

1. Holt, "Victorian America Celebrates Easter."

2. Holt.

3. Holt.

4. Holt.

5. Holt.

6. Klein, "Spring Traditions of the Victorian Era." "10 Victorian Easter Traditions You Should Try."

7. Holt. Breathnach, Mrs. Sharp’s Traditions: Reviving Victorian Family Celebrations of Comfort & Joy, 108.

8. "10 Victorian Easter Traditions You Should Try."

9. "10 Victorian Easter Traditions You Should Try."

10. Holt. Breathnach, 114-5.

11. Klein. Breathnach, 114-5.

12. Breathnach, 108.

13. Holt. Klein. "10 Victorian Easter Traditions You Should Try." Breathnach, 112-3.

14. Matthews, "The Victorian Easter Bunny." "Victorian Easter Celebrations."

15. Breathnach, 111.

16. Klein. "10 Victorian Easter Traditions You Should Try." "Victorian Easter Celebrations."

17. Klein. "10 Victorian Easter Traditions You Should Try." "Victorian Easter Celebrations."

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istinholt.com/archives/4275.

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Matthews, Mimi. “The Victorian Easter Bunny.” Mimi Matthews, July 14, 2021. https://www.mi

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