Happy Easter

I want to wish a most blessed and Happy Easter to all!

Besides the most valued, fundamental and Christian meaning to Easter, where did all the ‘traditions’ that have developed over the years come from?

First – the Easter Egg

Easter means the ‘rising of Christ’; a Norsemen’s word meaning ‘new birth’. The egg symbolizes new life and has been used for many, many years. The ‘coloring’(decorating) of eggs is believed to have begun in England back in the days of Edward I who gold-leafed and colored the eggs to give out as Easter gifts. As years came along, the actual coloring of eggs started with the use of dyes made from vegetables, flowers, fruits, coffee (believe it or not), tea, leaves, bark and roots. Designs on the eggs were made by wrapping them in ferns in different ways before tinting them. The art of coloring Easter Eggs has come down through the centuries with continuous changes due to artistic innovations.

Then – the ‘Bunny’, Baby Chicks and Little Lambs

As with the word Easter denoting ‘new birth’ – beginning of life, so symbolizes little bunnies, baby chicks and lambs. Their birth denotes the beginning of their ‘new life.’

Easter Bunny and the hiding of Easter Eggs

Although this tradition has been done for many years and it is basically done for the children, the true meaning behind its custom might not be one that we would want to share with children. However, back in the days of the ‘Two Babylons’ it was declared that the rabbit was a pagan symbol of fertility and the egg was the emblem of the germinating life. Thus coinciding with the meaning of ‘new birth’ and ‘new life.’ As one would imagine, over the many years the explanation of this tradition has been omitted when explaining Easter and its traditions to children. There is much speculation as to how the ‘hiding of Easter eggs’ came about. The most popular believe is that back in the 15^th/16^th century, the adults who used to give colored, decorated eggs as gifts to one another decided to make a game of it by hiding them in the yards. They would have their children hunt for them and they were to give all they found to their parents.

Easter Bonnets

The wearing of Easter bonnets is not as practiced as it was a few years ago. It used to be a tradition (especially in New York, Philadelphia amongst other major cities) that women could not wait for the time to try to outdo one another by parading around on Easter Sunday in their new acquired Easter Bonnet! It began as a European tradition among women bedecking their hats with flowers to wear with pride on Easter Sunday – again, competing to show who had the best bonnet. When it spread to the US, even the shops on 5^th Avenue in New York got involved trying to outdo each other in displaying the best bonnet in the shop windows.

Easter Parade

The Easter Parade as we know it began as an American cultural event in the late 18^th Century in New York City, being an informal and unorganized event with very little religious significance. The popularity of this event grew increasingly to other cities in the mid 20^th century. People would gather impromptu dressed in new and fashionable clothing, especially the women in their Easter Bonnets. They would stroll the avenue … boulevard … trying to impress others with their finery, with the women trying to prove they were wearing the best. This event has decreased in its enticement and is not celebrated as greatly as it once was.

Easter Dinner

Years ago, many families prepared and served leg of lamb for their Easter dinner. This tradition originated from the Biblical meaning of the lamb being the religious sacrifice. However, some people still have the leg of lamb, but most people today cook a ham (no religious significance). The best part of the Easter dinner is the gathering of the family for great enjoyment and fellowship.

Hoping you all have a great Easter planned and will enjoy it to the fullest.

Again, HAPPY EASTER!