What Are Torrijas? Spain’s Easter Dessert That Puts French Toast to Shame

Sweet Jesus, they’re good! This once-a-year Spanish Easter treat is soaked in milk or wine, fried to golden perfection, and steeped in centuries of tradition.

Let’s get one thing straight. Torrijas may only show up for a month or so a year in Spain, but they are serious business. And they’ve been showing up for a while — since Roman times, in fact, when they appeared in a cookbook attributed to the glutton Marco Gavio Apicius. 

So what is it that makes torrijas so special? Why is it blasphemous to call them French toast? What’s their connection to Easter? And why on earth were they part of a staple diet for expectant mothers?

Torrijas: Spain’s Simple, Sweet Easter Dessert Explained 

Torrijas, a simple Spanish dessert, consists of slices of stale bread dipped in milk, egg, honey and cinnamon. Or trade out the egg for sweet wine. Now I’ve got your attention. Once the bread has soaked for a while in this mixture, fry it in hot olive oil. Pack your bags, French toast — torrijas are in town. 

If you live in Spain or have visited during Easter, you’ll know what I am talking about. If you don’t, add this to your must-eat list for when you’re next here. Put it high up. And if you can, visit my favorite place in the world for torrijas: Maru Jara in Seville.

You can tell when Easter is just around the corner in Spain from the waft of incense in the streets emerging from church doorways and the faithful’s windows. Another sure sign is the huge queue that forms outside of local bakeries and patisseries, where a different kind of devoted crowd waits in line for their favorite dessert. 

Despite the svelte figure that many Spaniards boast, they eat a lot of torrijas. In 2024 alone, Confitería Aparicio in Málaga, who’ve been in business since 1941, sold 80,000 torrijas. You do the math. Like I said, torrijas are no joke. 

The History of Torrijas: How They Became a Holy Week Tradition

At the end of the 15th century, torrijas made their way into a Christmas carol, thanks to a Salamanca writer, Juan de la Encina (1468-1533). While the biblical association is still alive and well, shortly thereafter, torrijas swapped out Christmas for Easter. 

Devout Catholics abstained from eating meat during Lent, especially during Semana Santa (Holy Week) in the leadup to Resurrection Day. To sweeten the deal, torrijas took center stage, providing the obedient with the energy they needed during this frugal period. Not only did this sustain appetites, but it also used up day-old bread — waste not, want not, as the bible says. In case you needed another reason, eaten with wine, together the two were said to represent the body and blood of Christ. Amen to that, I say. 

Torrijas and Childbirth: Their Strange Role in Spanish Medicine 

Never mind epidural anaesthesia, back in the 16th century torrijas were just what the doctor ordered. As well as being a staple at Easter, they were dispensed to pregnant women before giving birth since this calorie-packed fare was thought to revitalize energy. 

While the custom no longer survives, its legacy lives on in the name. In Galicia, torrijas are known as torradas de parida, and in the Balearic Islands, they’re sopes de partera — both loosely translating to something like “post-childbirth toast,” a nod to the pastry’s former role in postpartum recovery.

Why Torrijas Vanish After Semana Santa

As popular as torrijas are, they don’t stick around for long. Typical desserts that sell all year in bakeries aren’t to be found at Easter, as there’s no time (or space on the shelves) for them. Yet, search for torrijas after Easter Sunday, and you’ll be out of luck. 

If you can’t wait that long, you can find torrijas on menus in high-end restaurants year-round. Some chefs dare to make them with fresh bread instead of day-old, trade it out for brioche, stuff them with cream and chocolate, or add a dollop of ice cream, or even worse — a mousse. That’s sacrilegious, if you ask me. I’ll wait til next spring for their resurrection. –Joanne Batten

How to Celebrate Ostara: Wiccan Rituals, Traditions and the Magic of the Spring Equinox

This Wiccan holiday marks the balance of light and dark, where renewal, fertility and abundance flourish as the earth awakens to spring.

The earth hums with energy as daylight and darkness meet in perfect harmony. Budding flowers stretch toward the sun, animals stir from hibernation, and the air carries the promise of growth. All around, nature beckons us to awaken, just as the wheel of the year tips toward the season of light and abundance.

This is Ostara, the spring equinox, celebrated between March 20 to 23. Named for the mysterious goddess Eostre, Ostara is a festival of fertility, renewal, and planting both literal and metaphorical seeds. With its themes of balance and rebirth, this sabbat bridges the cold stillness of winter with the full bloom of summer ahead. Its mirror opposite on the wheel of the year is Mabon, the fall equinox and it follows Imbolc, which celebrates the first sprouts of spring in the frozen earth. 

But while Ostara is deeply connected to Wiccan and pagan traditions, its origins are layered and mysterious. Let’s dive into its history, symbols and ways to celebrate this vibrant time of renewal.

The Meaning and Myth of Ostara

Ostara is widely believed to derive its name from the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre (also spelled Ostara). But here’s where it gets controversial: The primary historical source for Eostre’s existence comes from Bede, an 8th century monk, who wrote that her festival was celebrated in “Eosturmonath” (April). According to Bede, pagan feasts in her honor were eventually replaced by Christian celebrations of Easter.

And yet, no other historical records corroborate Bede’s account. Was Eostre a real goddess — or a poetic invention? Modern scholars debate this fiercely. While there’s no definitive proof of Eostre’s worship, her association with dawn, fertility and renewal fits neatly into broader pagan traditions. It’s possible that she embodies older, more universal myths tied to fertility goddesses like Freyja, Demeter and Persephone.

Regardless of historical certainty, modern Wiccans and pagans embrace Eostre as a symbol of spring’s arrival. Her imagery — rabbits, eggs and flowers — feels timeless, resonating deeply with the themes of balance, growth and new life celebrated at Ostara. Even Christians have co-opted these symbols in modern celebrations of Easter, including the Easter Bunny himself.

Ostara Traditions Through Time

Ostara’s modern observance blends ancient seasonal rituals with contemporary creativity. These traditions connect us to nature’s rhythms and honor the balance of light and dark.

Eggs and Hares: Eggs and rabbits didn’t start with Easter — these fertility symbols were likely part of pre-Christian spring rituals. Eggs symbolize potential and the rebirth of life, while hares, sacred to Eostre (according to legend), represent abundance and connection to the divine.

A fun surprise? Ancient pagan stories suggest the hare was seen as a lunar creature, tied to moon cycles and magical energy. Some even believed hares laid eggs — an idea that later inspired whimsical springtime myths.

Equinox Celebrations: The spring equinox, when day and night are perfectly balanced, was observed by many ancient cultures. The Druids celebrated Alban Eilir, the “Light of the Earth,” and decorated eggs to honor fertility. And ancient Greeks marked Persephone’s return from the Underworld, signaling the earth’s rebirth.

Seasonal Planting: Spring has always been a time to sow seeds — both in the earth and in life. Farmers honored this time with blessings for fertile fields, while modern pagans plant both gardens and intentions, infusing the act with magic.

Symbols of Ostara

Ostara is filled with rich imagery that captures the essence of spring’s renewal. These symbols are perfect for decorating altars, crafting or inspiring seasonal rituals.

Eggs: Eggs represent fertility, creation and the promise of new beginnings. Try decorating them with symbols like spirals, suns or runes for added magical energy.

Hares: Hares, sacred to Eostre, symbolize vitality and fertility. Including figurines or images of hares on your altar connects you to the season’s abundant energy.

Seeds and Flowers: Seeds carry the potential for growth, while spring flowers like daffodils, tulips and crocuses embody renewal and beauty.

The Colors of Spring: Green for growth, yellow for sunlight, and pastel tones reflect the gentle awakening of the earth.

Ostara Ritual: A Spell for Balance and Growth

At Ostara, Wiccans can align with the equinox’s energy by casting a spell to invite balance, harmony, and the promise of new growth into their lives.

What you’ll need (it’s OK to improvise if you have to):

• Two candles (one white, one green)

• A bowl of soil or seeds

• A small dish of water

• A flower or sprig of fresh herbs

• A bell or chime

Step 1: Prepare the space. 

Set your altar or sacred space with the candles, bowl of soil and dish of water. Dim the lights and play soft music to create a peaceful atmosphere. Cast a magic circle if you wish.

Step 2: Light the candles. 

Light the white candle, symbolizing light and renewal, and the green candle, representing growth and fertility. Focus on the balance they create together. Say:

Light and dark, in harmony they meet,
Balance returns, the cycle complete.

Step 3: Plant your intention. 

Hold the bowl of soil or seeds in your hands. Visualize your intentions for the coming season: goals, projects or qualities you wish to grow. Speak your intentions aloud as you sprinkle the seeds into the soil. Say:

Seeds of potential, planted with care,
Grow with the season, strong and fair.
Earth below and sun above,
Balance returns, life and love.

These seeds I sow with hope anew,
Blessed by spring, they shall come true.

Step 4: Bless with water. 

Dip your fingers into the water and sprinkle it over the soil, blessing it with the promise of nourishment. Say:

By water’s flow and earth’s embrace,
Growth and balance fill this space.

Step 5: Seal the spell. 

Ring the bell or chime to signal the spell’s completion. Thank the elements and Eostre for their guidance. Extinguish the candles and keep the bowl of seeds in a sunny spot, tending to it as your intentions grow.

Ostara Feasts

Celebrate Ostara with a feast that honors spring’s abundance and the promise of growth.

Fresh Greens: Nothing says spring like bright, fresh salads, featuring ingredients like spinach, arugula and edible flowers.

Egg-Centric Dishes: Quiches, deviled eggs or frittatas bring fertility and renewal to the table.

Seeded Breads: Baking bread with seeds, like sunflower or poppy, represents planting and abundance.

Spring Sweets: Consider desserts infused with honey, lavender or lemon for a refreshing touch.

Ostara Crafts

Ostara is the perfect time to channel your creativity and celebrate the themes of renewal and balance through hands-on projects. These crafts connect you to the energy of spring while incorporating natural, sustainable materials and a dash of magic.

Naturally Dyed Eggs

Decorating eggs is one of Ostara’s most beloved traditions, symbolizing fertility and the promise of new life. Skip the chemical dyes and craft vibrant, all-natural colors from items in your kitchen.

What you’ll need:

• Eggs (white eggs will give you the brightest results)

• Large pots for boiling

• Ingredients for natural dyes (see below)

• White vinegar

Natural Dye Ingredients and Colors:

Red: Beetroot, pomegranate juice or hibiscus tea

Yellow: Turmeric or onion skins

Blue: Red cabbage leaves

Green: Spinach or parsley

Orange: Paprika or more onion skins

How to make the dyes:

1. Place your chosen ingredient in a pot with 2–3 cups of water. The more material you use, the richer the color.

2. Add 1–2 tablespoons of white vinegar to the pot to help set the dye.

3. Bring the mixture to a boil, then simmer for 20–30 minutes. Strain the liquid into a bowl and let it cool.

4. Submerge hard-boiled eggs in the cooled dye for at least 30 minutes—or leave them overnight in the fridge for deeper colors.

Pro tip: Wrap leaves, flowers or herbs around the eggs before dyeing and secure them with nylon stockings for a beautiful stenciled effect.

DIY Herb-Infused Ostara Candles

Candles are central to Ostara rituals, representing the growing sunlight and the goddess Eostre’s energy. Craft your own herb-infused candles to bring the scents and symbols of spring into your home.

What you’ll need:

• Soy wax flakes or beeswax

• Candle wicks

• Small glass jars or tins

• Dried herbs (lavender, rosemary, chamomile or mint work well)

• Essential oils

• A double boiler or heat-safe bowl over a pot of boiling water

How to make them:

1. Melt the wax in a double boiler, stirring gently until fully liquified.

2. Sprinkle a small amount of dried herbs into the bottom of your jars or tins.

3. Attach the wick to the center of the jar using a bit of melted wax or wick stickers.

4. Once the wax has melted, add a few drops of essential oil for extra fragrance. 

5. Carefully pour the wax into the jar, covering the herbs, and let it set.

6. Trim the wick to about ¼ inch before lighting.

Pro tip: Use herbs that align with your intentions: rosemary for protection, lavender for peace or chamomile for balance.

Springtime Mobile

A spring-themed mobile adds a touch of whimsy and Ostara magic to your space. Use natural materials to represent the elements and the energy of renewal.

What you’ll need:

• A sturdy branch or piece of driftwood

• Twine or fishing line

• Seasonal items: feathers, flowers, leaves, small crystals, seashells and charms

• Scissors

How to make it:

1. Clean and dry your branch or driftwood.

2. Tie lengths of twine or fishing line to the branch.

3. Attach your chosen items to the dangling twine. Feathers can symbolize air, flowers represent earth, and crystals amplify energy.

4. Hang the branch horizontally in a window, above your altar, or in a garden to honor the balance and beauty of spring.

Pro tip: Use biodegradable materials if you plan to hang the mobile outdoors.

Painted Terracotta Pots

Ostara is a season for planting, so why not decorate your garden pots with symbols of growth and renewal?

What you’ll need:

• Terracotta pots

• Acrylic or outdoor paint

• Paintbrushes

• Stencils or masking tape for patterns

How to make them:

1. Clean and dry the pots to ensure paint adheres properly.

2. Use stencils or masking tape to create patterns or designs. Think spirals for growth, sun symbols for light, or runes for magical intentions.

3. Paint the pots, letting each layer dry before adding the next.

4. Seal the design with a clear outdoor sealant if the pots will be exposed to the elements.

Pro tip: Use these pots to plant seeds during your Ostara ritual and watch your intentions grow alongside the seedlings.

Wildflower Seed Bombs

Seed bombs are a fun and eco-friendly craft that lets you spread the beauty of Ostara wherever you go. They’re great for attracting pollinators and adding bursts of color to bare patches of earth.

What you’ll need:

• Wildflower seeds (native species are best)

• Compost or potting soil

• Powdered clay (available at garden centers)

• Water

How to make them:

1. Mix 2 parts compost, 1 part powdered clay, and your wildflower seeds in a bowl.

2. Slowly add water, mixing until the mixture holds together like dough.

3. Roll the mixture into small balls (about the size of a marble).

4. Let the seed bombs dry for 24–48 hours.

5. Scatter them in your garden, along trails, or in unused spaces to spread beauty and life.

Pro tip: Include a mix of flowers that bloom at different times to extend the season’s vibrancy.

Crafting at Ostara is a way to honor the energy of spring, connect with nature, and bring magic into your life. Whether you’re dyeing eggs with kitchen magic, crafting candles or scattering seed bombs, these projects celebrate the season’s themes of balance, fertility and renewal.

Embracing the Magic of Ostara

Ostara is an invitation to align with the rhythms of nature, balance your life, and plant the seeds of your dreams. Whether through rituals, crafting, feasting or simply soaking in the spring air, this sacred celebration connects us to the cycles of life, death and rebirth.

May your Ostara be filled with harmony, hope, and the vibrant energy of spring. Blessed be. –Wally

Where the Heck Did the Easter Bunny Come From?

Hopping through the history of the Easter Bunny, from pagan rituals to modern-day celebrations. Along the way, we’ll make some egg-citing discoveries about his birth as a fertility symbol and the origin of dyed eggs and Easter baskets.

Who knew the Easter Bunny evolved from the animal companion of a pagan goddess?

I once sponsored a child in India. His name was Papu Magi, and I regularly wrote him letters, sharing U.S. customs. When Easter rolled around, I explained how a giant human-sized bunny sneaks into our homes at night and leaves baskets filled with candy and colored eggs.

It wasn’t until I had written it out that I realized how bizarre some of our holiday traditions truly are. This got me thinking: How did we come up with the Easter Bunny?

“It makes you wonder if most Christians realize the holiday dedicated to the resurrection of their savior is actually named for a pagan goddess.”

Young women dance around a phallic maypole to increase their fertility — another pagan spring tradition.

A Pagan Origin: How the Easter Bunny and Dyed Eggs Became Symbols of Spring Celebrations

The origins of the Easter Bunny, as well as dyed eggs, can be traced back to ancient pagan rituals that celebrated the arrival of spring, including Ostara. Still practiced as a Wiccan holiday, Ostara is a celebration of the spring equinox. It’s named after the Germanic goddess Eostre, who some scholars deduce was associated with the dawn, fertility and new beginnings. (It makes you wonder if most Christians realize the holiday dedicated to the resurrection of their savior is actually named for a pagan deity).

Caveat: Hard evidence about Eostre is lacking, and the goddess remains shrouded in mystery. Much of what’s reported on her is conjecture.

Her first mention comes from a famous monk, the Venerable Bede, in 731 CE, who wrote that the Anglo-Saxons called April Eosturmonath, or Eostre Month, in honor a pagan goddess worshiped at that time.

Easter gets its name from Eostre, a pagan goddess of the spring.

These rites of spring were full of festive merrymaking, including dancing around maypoles, drinking mead and worshiping rabbits.

Yup, that’s right: Bunnies were a key figure in these celebrations. In pagan traditions, the rabbit was seen as a symbol of fertility and new life — no real surprise, given their well-deserved reputation for rapid reproduction.

During these springtime celebrations, people would decorate eggs, believing them to have the power to bring new life and prosperity to those who ate them. Using natural dyes made from flowers and other plants, they created eggs in a variety of hues. And, as crazy as it might sound, rabbits were said to be responsible for laying colored eggs.

Do Jesus and the Easter Bunny belong in the same holiday?

Hopping Into Easter: The Christian Origins of the Easter Bunny and Its Symbolism of Resurrection

The Easter Bunny may have its roots in pagan traditions, but it also had a significant place in Christian beliefs. The early Christians in Europe adopted many pagan customs and blended them with their own religious practices, which is how the Easter Bunny eventually found its way into the Christian tradition.

Much as with Christmas, some Christians bemoan the commercialization of the Easter holiday.

I’m not sure that many Christians today connect the commercial aspects of Easter with the religious ones (there’s a parallel to Santa and Christmas), but back in the day, early Christians associated the rabbit, and all of its spring rebirth symbolism, with Jesus’ resurrection.

It seems that Karen Swallow Prior, a professor of Christianity and culture at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, agrees. “There’s nothing wrong with dressing up in pastels, hiding eggs or consuming large amounts of chocolate,” she wrote in an op-ed in The Washington Post. “But if the fluffy white bunny takes precedence over the crucified and resurrected Lord, we’ve missed the point.”

Easter baskets came about from a pagan tradition to carry offerings to the goddess of spring.

The History of Easter Baskets: From Pagan Offerings to Sweet Treats

Easter baskets are a staple of the holiday, but how did they become a part of the Easter tradition? It turns out that the origin of the Easter basket is also closely tied to the pagan celebrations of spring.

In pagan traditions, baskets were used to carry offerings to the goddess of spring, including eggs, thought to increase fertility. Over time, the baskets became a symbol of the bounty of spring and were filled with all sorts of goodies, like flowers, fruit and vegetables.

Well, no wonder the Easter Bunny decided to switch to baskets!

As the Easter basket evolved, so did its contents. Today, they’re most often filled with candy (including a chocolate rabbit, which kids will disturbingly bite its ears off of) and other treats, filled by the Easter Bunny himself during a nocturnal visit — again, another connection to Santa Claus. 

It’s hard to tell exactly when the Easter Bunny became adult-sized and anthropomorphic, but it seems like it might have happened around the 1950s.

Hare Today, Easter Bunny Tomorrow: Tracing the Evolution of the Beloved Easter Mascot

The Easter Bunny has been a beloved symbol of the holiday for centuries, but have you ever wondered how it evolved into the oversized, anthropomorphic creature we know today? 

He didn’t start out that way. The hare, a smaller relative of the rabbit, was revered by ancient cultures for its speed, agility and ability to reproduce, and was often associated with the moon and the goddess of fertility. A study from 2020 draws a direct connection between Eostre and her association with the hare.

Bunnies and colored eggs have long been symbols of spring, representing new life.

As the hare became associated with pagan spring celebrations, it eventually evolved into the Easter Bunny we know today. This transformation was likely influenced by the German tradition of the Osterhase, a hare who laid eggs for children on Easter morning.

Jacob Grimm, one of the famous Brothers Grimm who collected oral folklore throughout Germany, said in 1835 that the Easter hare was associated with Eostre, or Ostara, as she would have been called in ancient German.

At some point, the Easter Bunny grew in size and children were told he visits their homes at night (much like Santa) to leave them candy-filled Easter baskets.

Vintage cards from the late 1800s to early 1900s show a lot of rabbits, but it seems like it wasn’t until the 1950s or so that the Easter Bunny became more and more human-like. Perhaps families or malls started having someone dress up like the Easter Bunny for photo opportunities. And despite the fact that the Easter Bunny became bipedal and reached 6 feet or so (not counting the ears), most kids believe he can’t actually talk. 

Then again, it might have come down to marketing as a gimmick to help sell candy. “The Easter Bunny was created out of whole cloth by the confectionary industry,” claims David Emery, who writes for the fact-check site Snopes.

In another connection to Christmas, it has become a tradition to terrorize children by making them sit on the Easter Bunny’s lap for a photo.

Today, the Easter Bunny is a staple of the holiday, sometimes depicted wearing clothes — most often a vest and bowtie — and carrying baskets of eggs and treats.

To quote the M&M’s commercial, a fave of mine as a kid in the ’80s: “Thanks, Easter Bunny! Bawk! Bawk!” –Wally