ALT-3 The Traditions of Easter
Easter is a holiday for which there are many traditions. Some of those traditions originated as part of pagan festival of Eostre which celebrated spring and fertility and the new life that spring was said to bring about. As Christianity spread, many of the Pagan traditions were taken over by Christians, including the Easter Bunny and the Easter Basket. Despite the melding of some of these traditions, there are other traditions that are indigenous to Christianity and that didn't evolve out of Pagan or secular traditions.Here is a look at some of the traditions of Easter and the reasons for which they are important.*Easter Eggs -The book "Festivals and Celebrations" explains that the ancient Egyptians and Persians dyed eggs which they then exchanged with their friends. The author, Rowland Furton, states that Christians first gave eggs to their friends at Easter, to remind them of Christ's resurrection in Mesopotamia. In Pagan culture, eggs were symbols of fertility, and that is perfectly fitting for the start of spring and the symbols of new life.Historically, the proper observation of Lent forbade the consumption of eggs. That is why eggs were used so much on Shrove Tuesday. People wanted to get rid of their eggs because they couldn't eat them for the next 40 days.Many centuries ago, when Lent ended on Easter, there was a traditional custom of giving decorated eggs to friends and servants. The tradition of painting and/or decorating eggs is one that has continued. The Ukrainians and Eastern Europeans have a well established reputation for beautifully decorated eggs with intricate designs. The famous "bejeweled Easter Egg" was created in St. Petersburg in Russia, sometime in the late 1880's, by the artist Peter Carl Faberge.*Easter Bunny -The Easter Bunny is the cute little rabbit who hides eggs for people to find on Easter. A German book from 1682 tells a tale of a bunny who lays eggs and hides the eggs in the garden. Rabbits were traditionally seen as a symbol of new life and fertility, and therefore of Easter.The Easter Bunny has become a popular children's character in much the same way that Santa Claus has. Hares were sacred to the Pagan festival of Eostre. Both the hard and the rabbit were the most fertile animals known, so it is fitting that they served as symbols of new life during spring. The origins of the bunny come from pre-Christian fertility lore.
- Special Easter meals -
Prior to Easter, many Christians, especially Catholics would observe Lent for 40 days. There would be much celebrating on Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday (also called Mardi Gras,) since that was the last day on which people could eat things that would be forbidden during Lent. Easter Dinner represented a way to break the fast of Lent and to resume eating all of the things that had been forbidden during Lent.
Another tradition related to the Easter dinner was one in which people would bring baskets filled with food to church on Easter Sunday. The clerics would then bless the foods in the basket since they were foods that were all forbidden during Lent. For those who celebrate in a more secular manner or who prefer to go to church for a very early service, there is a tradition of Easter brunch. It is less formal than the Easter dinner and is designed to incorporate festive and fun spring foods.
- Hot Cross Buns -The book entitled "Dates and Meanings of Religious and Other Festivals" claims that Hot Cross Buns were kept especially for Good Friday because of the symbolism of the cross. It is thought that they probably originated in Pagan times and the bun represented the moon and the cross represented four quarters of the moon.Hot Cross Buns were traditionally made and eaten on Good Friday because they were believed to have miraculous curative powers. People could hang buns from the kitchen ceilings so that the buns could protect the home from evil for the next year. It was also believed that Good Friday breads and buns would never get moldy.*Easter Basket -Easter Basket is a Catholic custom. Originally, the baskets were filled with breads, cheeses, hams and other foods that would be eaten for Easter dinner. The basket would be taken to morning mass so that the foods could be blessed. Eventually, the original tradition evolved into one in which the baskets were filled with chocolate eggs, jelly beans, toys, and stuffed bunnies, all of which were left by the Easter bunny.*Easter Bonnet -The Easter Bonnet, just like the new clothing that people traditionally got for Easter were thought to be symbolic of the end of the long dreary winter and the birth of a new spring. At the start of the 20th century, it was common for families to walk hand in hand, to and from church, showing off their "Sunday best" along the way.
Other important traditions include Easter egg hunts, Easter egg rolls, the donning of new clothing for Easter and walking to and from Church, showing off the new clothing and "Sunday best" clothing.
Many of the former religious traditions have been adopted by people who aren't so religious and there are aspects of Easter that are celebrated in a secular context. Many of these traditions are deeply rooted in history. Despite their historic origins, some of these traditions continue to be a part of the standard religious practices for the Easter holiday.SOURCE:Easter Traditions
