 |
| Source: The Graphics Fairy |
I know this article is a bit late, but I was too busy actually enjoying Easter to prepare it in time so I thought I'd post it today, ready for next year! Easter has so much significance all around the world, for many different cultures, so I thought it would be fun to look at some cultural and historical traditions that have shaped Easter and might explain the way we celebrate it today. It may also give you some budget-friendly ideas to create new Easter traditions in your own family.
Most Easter traditions come from the Northern Hemisphere and the observation of both Christ's death and resurrection, and the arrival of Spring. As we all know, celebrating Easter with eggs is an age-old tradition, and this was linked with the end of the cold, winter hibernation period for the chickens, and the commencement of the warmer, laying period of spring and summer. Many of these traditions come from religious observance, including the period of Lent when meat, dairy and yes, eggs, were given up during the fasting period. In Italy, the hard-boiling of the eggs that weren't to be eaten, and then painted to be given as gifts on Easter Sunday is a precursor to the colourful eggs we use today.
Many Eastern Orthodox religions still dye their eggs today. In our family, we carry on this tradition from my grandfather who was Greek. Easter isn't Easter in our family without a red-egg cracking competition after lunch. We use commercially bought dye, but you can dye your own eggs using natural dyes mixed with a tablespoon of white wine vinegar. Onion skin will give orange eggs, turmeric will give golden eggs, shredded beets for purple eggs, and red cabbage for sky blue eggs. The stronger the dye, the deeper the colour. It's also best to use pale-shelled eggs for best results. You can find a detailed recipe here.
But this correlation between eggs and rebirth goes even further back. During the period of the Roman Empire, there was a saying - Omne vivum ex ovo - all life comes from the egg. The eggs were given as gifts after winter to celebrate the arrival of spring. Also pre-Christianity, there was an Anglo-Saxon spring festival known as Eastre (or Eostre), to celebrate the arrival of spring and nature's rebirth after the long, cold winter months. Eostre's animal symbol was - you guessed it - the rabbit. It was only natural then the rabbit, symbol of fertility, rebirth, spring, should give the gift of eggs, also a symbol of these things. This egg gift-giving continued throughout history, with examples of Edward I using gold leaf eggs as a gift in 1290, the Vatican sending silver-cased eggs to Henry VIII in the fifteenth century, and the glorious Faberge eggs of the Russian empire during the nineteenth century. When we were little we would pierce an egg at the top and the bottom with a pin, blow out the inside and then painstakingly drip different coloured egg wax all over the empty, dried out shell for a pretty, textured effect. It took hours usually but the effect was well worth the effort. Alternatively, you can now buy ceramic eggs ready for painting.
It was during the Victorian era that we see a fundamental shift in ideas towards children, celebrations, and gift-giving. Instead of simply giving gifts to noblemen and women, royalty and other high-classed citizens, children and the working class were also included in the seasonal celebrations. Family-friendly traditions of egg hunts, egg rolls and other games were introduced. Our favourite Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian authors would also have observed the religious services of the period.
“Easter during the Regency was both a holy day and a holiday.” – Lesley-Ann McCleod
The wonderful authors over at Jane Austen's World share many of the religious and secular traditions of Jane's time, including Easter eggs, Easter bonnets, hot cross buns and spring festivals or fairs. Picnics, family lunches and visiting of friends and family were also part of the celebration. In Italy, the hot cross bun gives way to the traditional Colomba bread, similar to Panettone but in the shape of a dove. The dove also symbolises peace, Christ and the return of spring.
Many of the ideas that we have discussed here today are traditions that have existed around the world for centuries. I haven't even talked about the beautiful Guatemalan alfombra sand traditions, the kites of Bermuda, the painted eggs of Poland or the Passion Plays of Sri Lanka. Perhaps that's another post for next Easter!
 |
| Source: The Graphics Fairy |
Sources used:
A lively post - Easter is the most important of all the holy days (holidays) Very interesting! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMeant "lovely" - but i guess its is "lively" too! 😉
ReplyDeleteThank you Marceline! It certainly is my favourite of the holy days, and I love all the history and traditions behind it. Certainly keeps it lively! 😉
Delete