The Easter egg hunt explained

An Easter egg hunt is a much-loved Easter game in which decorated or chocolate eggs are hidden — indoors or, classically, in a garden — for children (and sometimes adults!) to find. It's one of the most popular Easter traditions, especially for families.

Where it comes from

Eggs have long been a symbol of new life and spring, and the association of eggs (and an egg-bringing 'Easter Bunny' or hare) with Easter has roots in old European customs. The modern hunt — hiding eggs for children to seek out — grew from these traditions and has become a fixture of the Easter weekend in the UK and many other countries.

How a hunt works

• Eggs (chocolate, or refillable plastic ones) are hidden around a defined area
• Children search for them, often with a basket to collect their finds
• Difficulty is scaled to age — easy spots for toddlers, clues for older children
• It usually ends with everyone sharing or comparing their haul

Running a good one

Count the eggs you hide so none are missed, level the field for mixed ages (head starts, separate zones or colour-coded eggs), and consider plastic eggs with toys or clues inside to avoid melted chocolate. Our free egg hunt clues, hunt map and scorecard add to the fun, and our family Easter guide has more.