Yes we know they’re past their shell-life but indulge our wordplay this weekend as we go absolutely Quakers for the history of Easter Eggs.
Because while the Christian movement might have failed to persuade most of us to join them they have converted the world to Easter Eggs.
Although there were already devotees aplenty in Aztec civilisations to the spiritual qualities of the bean.
Not that anyone cracking their Easter Eggs today will give a second thought either to Fry’s or even know who Joseph Fry was.
My Dear Old Mum certainly did, and it was a bit of a tradition in our household that I would gift her a bar of Fry’s Chocolate Cream a penance.
For something I’d done wrong which I recollect would be most weeks.
Thank Fryday
Now the gooey white-filled Fry’s Chocolate Cream is the oldest brand of chocolate in the world, dating back to 1847 which, of course, I don’t have to tell you.
Or that hollow chocolate Easter Eggs, rather than the previous Medieval custom of filling actual hollow eggs with chocolate, were first sold out of Fry’s from 1873.
Apothecary Joseph Fry had set the family on the way back in 1728 selling to Bristolians as a cocoa health kick from 1728.
Alas Fry’s Somerdale Factory in Bristol closed in 2011 and the company long since joined up with fellow Quakers Cadbury in Birmingham.
That Fry, Cadbury and another not-so-ordinary Joe, Joseph Rowntree, of York ventured into chocolate was no mistake.
With their Quaker faith central to the venture and the mission to steer the public away from alcohol.
Choc it up to Cadbury
And of course the Cadburys built a new brave world in Bourneville where the workers’ rights, health and leisure, in and out of the factory were valued.
All of which you can enjoy with samples of the famous chocolate to leave with at the end of the tour.
And channel your inner Willy Wonka at the factory where one-time worker Roald Dahl was inspired to build a land of pure imagination.
Roots of Rowntree
Joseph Rowntree for his part was putting his chocolate footprint on York and bettering his fellow Tykes’ life.
All of which you can learn at York’s Chocolate Story.
The Rowntrees founded the village of New Earswick for low income families in 1902.
And education was provided for both children and adults.
Of course the Rowntrees continue to change the world, with their the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Where ‘they work to speed up and support the transition to a future free from poverty’
Worth remembering as we scoff ourselves silly this weekend.
And go absolutely Quakers for the history of Easter Eggs.
