Just where did the Easter egg get its origins? How long have Christians been celebrating this holiday with Easter eggs?

The first book to mention Easter eggs by name was written 500 years ago. It appears that in medieval Europe, eggs were forbidden during Lent, as persons gave up meat and eggs for the duration of these 40 days. So an egg was a wonderful celebration of the end of this season.

Text: AP

Image: People buy sweets as they prepare to celebrate Easter, at a sweet shop decorated with Easter eggs in Damascus, Syria, on Saturday, April 3, 2010. (Photograph copyright AP)