Chocolate is everywhere at the moment.
Just as turkey and mince pies have
become a firm part of Christmas tradition, chocolate is the essential Easter
treat. In recent years chocolate eggs have joined the painted ones in Easter
baskets, the first ones being made by hand using tin moulds about 150
years ago. These chocolate eggs were huge glossy shells which were
decorated with sugar flowers and pretty ribbons and were very expensive. At
the beginning of the 20th century, mass produced eggs began to take over
from the hand made ones.
Of all the symbols associated with Easter, the egg - the symbol of fertility
and new life - is the most identifiable. The customs and traditions of using
eggs have been associated with Easter for centuries. Eggs have been used
to represent rebirth and new life for hundreds of years with many customs
dating back to pagan traditions. In some cultures legend states that the
Earth itself hatched from a giant egg.
In the past, eggs were forbidden food during Lent so Easter Sunday became
the traditional time to start using them again. This led to many people giving
eggs, usually decorated, to their friends and servants.
Originally Easter eggs were painted with bright colours to represent Spring
and were used in Easter-egg rolling contests or given as gifts. After they
were coloured and etched with various designs the eggs were exchanged by
lovers and romantic admirers, much the same as Valentines. In medieval
times, eggs were traditionally given at Easter to the servants. In Germany
eggs were given to children along with other Easter gifts.
Different cultures have developed their own ways of decorating Easter eggs.
Crimson eggs, to honour the blood of Christ, are exchanged in Greece. In
parts of Germany and Austria green eggs are used on Maundy Thursday
(Holy Thursday). Slavic peoples decorate their eggs in special patterns of
gold and silver
Austrian artists design patterns by fastening ferns and tiny plants around the
eggs, which are then boiled. The plants are then removed revealing a
striking white pattern. The Poles and Ukrainians decorate eggs with simple
designs and colours. A number of eggs are made in the distinctive manner
called pysanki (to design, to write)
Pysanki eggs are a masterpiece of skill and workmanship. Melted beeswax
is applied to the fresh white egg. It is then dipped in successive baths of
dye. After each dip wax is painted over the area where the preceding color
is to remain. Eventually a complex pattern of lines and colors emerges into a
work of art
In Germany and other countries the contents of eggs are removed by
piercing the end of each egg with a needle and blowing the contents into a
bowl. The hollow eggs are dried and hung from shrubs and trees during the
Easter Week. The Armenians would decorate hollow eggs with pictures of
Christ, the Virgin Mary, and other religious designs
Easter Egg Games
Eggs play an important part in Easter sports. The Romans celebrated the
Easter season by running races on an oval track and giving eggs as prizes.
Egg Hunts
On Easter morning children search for the eggs that the Easter Bunny has
hidden while they were asleep. Eggs are hidden throughout the house or
garden and sometimes there will be a special prize for the child finding the
most eggs.
Egg Rolling
Eggs are rolled downhill as a symbol of the stone being rolled away from the
tomb where Jesus was laid. The rules of an Easter Egg Roll are to see who
can roll an egg the greatest distance or can roll their egg without breaking it,
usually down a grassy hillside or slope.
One of the most famous egg rolling traditions is held on the south lawn of
the White House on Easter Monday. This dates back to 1878 when
President Rutherford B Hayes allowed children to have access to the lawns.
They brought their own baskets and eggs and enjoyed simple games,
including the rolling of a hard-boiled decorated egg across the lawn. The
President, First Lady and other celebrities traditionally greet the children,
who receive collectible wooden eggs at the end of the day.
