Easter Fun Facts

Jellybeans Hit the Scene

The jellybean pops on to the scene in 1861.  An advertisement promotes the sending of jellybean treats to soldiers in the Union Army.  By 1998 jellybean consumption for the Easter season totals 15 billion. If these beans were lined up end-to-end they would circle the globe almost three times.

Easter Egg Dye

Easter egg dye is marketed at a whopping 5-cents a packet for the first time in 1880 by Pharmacist William Townley of Newark, NJ.

Jeweled Easter Eggs

In 1885 Russian Czar Alexander III commissioned Master Jeweler Peter Carl Fabergé to make a fabulously bejeweled Imperial Easter Egg as an Easter day surprise for his wife, Czarina Maria Gydorovna. She loved the gift so much, the Czar commissioned 56 more. The current value for a single Imperial Egg is about $6,000,000.

Easter Flicks

The American Mutoscope & Biograph Company, the oldest American movie company, produces the film short "An Easter Parade" on New York City's Fifth Avenue in 1899.  Viewed in Nickelodeons throughout the country, the film is shown for years to come on the news.   

The movie Easter Parade is released in 1948. This MGM musical romance spectacular starring Judy Garland and Fred Astaire ends up winning one Oscar for Best Scoring of a Musical Picture.

Eggs-A-Million

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 600,000,000 eggs are usually sold in America during the months of March and April, or Easter season.

Peeps-A-Plenty

A symphony of 600,000,000 Marshmallow Peeps, and their silent partner, chocolate bunnies, are typically consumed by Americans during Easter season.