Omar Khalid
Plastic Easter eggs have become a popular alternative to traditional chicken or duck eggs, which are typically decorated and exchanged during the Christian holiday of Easter. The custom of decorating eggshells is ancient, with engraved ostrich eggs discovered in Africa estimated to be 60,000 years old. However, the widespread use of plastic Easter eggs can be traced back to the 1970s, when colourful plastic eggs that could be filled with candy became a favourite among children and parents alike due to their durability and convenience. The hinged plastic Easter egg, patented in 1978 by Erwin and Donald Weder, revolutionised the post-holiday cleanup process, making it easier for parents to deal with discarded eggs. Today, plastic Easter eggs are commonly used in community and church Easter egg hunts, contributing to the holiday's festive spirit.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Inventors | Erwin and Donald Weder |
| Year of Patent | 1978 |
| Date of Patent | November 7 |
| Plastic Easter Eggs Filled With | Confectionery, chocolate, jelly beans, skittles, marshmallow chicks |
| Plastic Containers | Became popular in the 1960s |
| Plastic Easter Eggs Popularity | 1970s |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic Easter eggs became popular in the 1970s
The use of plastic Easter eggs can be traced back to a patent filed in 1961 for a "plastic container" that likely inspired the hinged plastic Easter egg. The hinged variety was invented by father-and-son inventors Erwin and Donald Weder from Illinois and patented in 1978. Their invention featured a small plastic hinge binding the two halves of the egg together, making it easier for parents to clean up after the holiday as they no longer had to match discarded egg halves with their correct pieces.
The practice of decorating eggs for Easter is an ancient tradition. In ancient Mesopotamia, ostrich eggs decorated with gold and silver were placed in the graves of Sumerians and Egyptians. In pre-Christian times, eggs were seen as symbols of fertility and rebirth, and this symbolism carried over into Christian traditions, where eggs represented the empty tomb of Jesus and his resurrection. Over time, the custom of decorating eggs spread from Mesopotamia to Eastern Europe and Siberia through Orthodox Churches, and later into Western Europe through Catholic and Protestant Churches.
In modern times, chocolate eggs wrapped in coloured foil, hand-carved wooden eggs, and plastic eggs filled with confectionery are commonly exchanged during Easter in Western cultures. In some Mediterranean countries, chicken eggs are boiled, decorated with dye or paint, and used as decorations before being eaten on Easter Day. The giving of Easter eggs has evolved to include a variety of treats, with plastic Easter eggs becoming a popular choice in the 1970s.
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They are often filled with treats
The Easter egg is a symbol of the resurrection of Jesus, with the egg symbol likened to the tomb from which Christ arose. The oldest tradition, which continues to be used in Central and Eastern Europe, is to dye and paint chicken eggs. In some Mediterranean countries, chicken eggs are boiled, decorated with dye and/or paint, and used as decorations around the house. On Easter Day, children would then eat them, and in some countries, they would first duel with them, saying "Christ is resurrected, Indeed, He is".
The custom of decorating eggs for Easter is quite ancient, with decorated, engraved ostrich eggs found in Africa that are 60,000 years old. In the pre-dynastic period of Egypt and the early cultures of Mesopotamia and Crete, eggs were associated with death and rebirth, as well as kingship. These cultural relationships may have influenced early Christian and Islamic cultures in those areas. The exchange of decorated eggs is known in many European countries, and in England, the gifting of such eggs has been known since the Middle Ages.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, egg-shaped toys were manufactured and given to children at Easter. The Victorians gave cardboard, plush, and satin-covered eggs filled with Easter gifts and chocolates. By the 1970s, colourful plastic eggs, usually the same size and shape as a chicken egg, had become popular. These plastic eggs can be separated into two halves and filled with candy, typically chocolate, jelly beans, Skittles, M&Ms, marshmallow chicks, and other treats. They are often used at church and community Easter egg hunts.
The hinged plastic Easter egg was patented in 1978 by father-and-son inventors Erwin and Donald Weder from Illinois. The eggs feature a small plastic hinge binding both pieces together, creating the perfect container to conceal treats from prying eyes.
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They were invented by Erwin and Donald Weder
The hinged plastic Easter egg was invented by father-and-son duo Erwin and Donald Weder from Illinois. They are part of an elite group of inventors internationally who have surpassed Thomas Edison in the total number of US patents granted to them. With 1,413 patents in total, Donald Weder, in particular, has easily eclipsed Edison's 1,093 US patents. The younger Weder is the president of Highland Supply Corporation of Highland, Illinois, a major player in the floriculture industry. Many of his inventions and patents are inspired by the florist trade, including the first Florist Foil and its successor, Plastifoil, flower pot covers, and decorative grass-like plastic material in many Easter baskets.
The Weders' plastic Easter egg was patented in 1978. The simple yet effective concept changed forever the post-holiday clean-up process. The egg features a small plastic hinge binding both halves together, creating the perfect container to conceal treats. The abstract for US Patent 4,124,135 describes the invention as follows:
> [The] Easter egg may be opened or closed to enable candy, toys, figurines or any other items desired to be placed therein so that they will appear to be inaccessible but yet they may be easily withdrawn at the appropriate time.
The Weder family's innovative spirit appears to be hereditary. Erwin Weder, the elder Weder, invented the beauty corsage container in 1937. He created the equipment to produce it using the parts of a wringer washing machine and a treadle sewing machine. Donald Weder also claimed that his father invented the folding Christmas tree and the aerosol can, although other inventors ultimately received patents and credit for these items.
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They were patented in 1978
The plastic Easter egg was patented in 1978 by father-and-son inventors from Illinois, Erwin and Donald Weder. The hinged plastic Easter egg, featuring a small plastic hinge binding both halves together, was designed to conceal treats. The patent abstract for U.S. Patent 4,124,135 describes the invention as follows:
> "The Easter egg may be opened or closed to enable candy, toys, figurines, or any other desired items to be placed therein so that they will appear to be inaccessible but yet there."
The hinged plastic Easter egg was a simple yet effective innovation that revolutionised the post-holiday clean-up process for parents. Instead of struggling to match discarded egg halves, parents now had to deal with only one whole egg. This invention built on earlier Easter-related traditions and innovations, such as the ancient practice of decorating eggshells, the 17th and 18th-century manufacture of egg-shaped toys, and the Victorian-era cardboard, plush, and satin-covered eggs filled with gifts and chocolates.
The Weder family has a history of innovation, with Erwin Weder, the father, inventing the beauty corsage container in 1937 using parts from a wringer washing machine and a treadle sewing machine. Donald Weder, the son, is the president of Highland Supply Corporation of Highland, Illinois, a major player in the floriculture industry, which serves as an inspiration for many of his inventions and patents.
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They are used in Easter egg hunts
The Easter egg hunt is a well-loved tradition, with a long history of different cultures and ideas passed down through time. The hunt for Easter eggs, which are hidden in gardens, symbolises the search for Christ's tomb and his resurrection. The tradition of the Easter egg hunt is believed to have originated in Germany in the 17th century, with children searching for eggs laid by the Easter bunny. The German physician and botanist Georg Franck von Franckenau recorded this folk belief in 1682.
The Easter bunny and coloured eggs were introduced to North America by German migrants in the 18th century. The tradition was also adopted by the British royal family. In 1838, 14-year-old Princess Victoria wrote about an egg hunt organised by her mother, the Duchess of Kent, who was born in Germany. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert continued the tradition with their children.
The use of plastic eggs for Easter egg hunts first appeared in London in the 1950s. Plastic eggs are popular as they are cheap, do not break easily, and can be filled with candy, toys, and coins. They are also used to make the activity more inclusive for visually impaired children, with some eggs emitting various clicks, beeps, noises, or music.
Today, Easter egg hunts are a family-friendly tradition, with communities and organisations, such as Cadbury, hosting large-scale Easter egg hunts.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic Easter eggs became popular in the 1970s.
Plastic Easter eggs are plastic replicas of chicken eggs that can be filled with candy and toys.
Plastic Easter eggs are usually filled with candy, chocolates, jelly beans, skittles, marshmallow chicks, etc.
Plastic Easter eggs became popular because they are durable and do not spoil or break easily. They are also used to hide treats from children during Easter egg hunts.
