Oh, those delicious chocolate Easter eggs!

An Ester egg made of chocolate.

Easter is approaching and what happens then in Iceland? We all buy “Easter eggs”- decorated eggs made of chocolate and filled with candy. The eggs also contain a small note containing a saying or proverb of some kind (those familiar with fortune cookies know what I’m talking about).

The eggs come in various sizes, but are categorized by weight, the heaviest weighing 1 kilogram.

Primarily parents give their children and their spouses eggs but it is also common practice to give an egg to anyone you care about. Many employers give eggs to their employees, for an example.

Almost everyone receives an egg during Easter, and if someone suspects he or she will not receive one this year, he/she just buys one for himself/herself.

In many families there is a tradition of hiding the eggs and on the morning of Easter day the children wake up early and go on a egg hunt throughout the house.

Some organizations and companies, but not that many, also arrange a public Easter egg hunt in parks or other public areas.

After cracking open the egg your first task is to find the small note with the saying. This is important because family members and friends usually ask each other “Which saying did you receive?” and then discuss, or explain to the children, what the saying means.

So what do you do if you happen to be in Iceland over Easter? You do like the locals of course: Head to the nearest grocery store or supermarket and buy chocolate Easter eggs for your love ones, or just for yourself! Enjoy, and happy Easter!