Easter Eggs
The custom of giving eggs at the time of the Spring Equinox was known to the early Egyptians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Gauls and many other people. This ancient fertility symbol was adapted by early Christianity in connection with the miracle of the Resurrection and the Feast of Eggs became attached to the celebration of Easter. In Scotland eggs were also used in the Beltane rites ( 1 May ), and like bannocks, were rolled downhill in imitation of the movement of the sun. In Christian times, the rolling of the egg is supposed to represent the rolling away of the the stone from the tomb of the risen Christ.
The practice of coloring the eggs is also ancient. The
Persians dyed theirs red, and still use colored eggs representing the flowers
of the field. In Scotland, country bairns used to gather Whin* blossoms and
other growing things with which to dye their eggs. Commercial Easter Eggs seem
to dominate now-a-days but it is far more fun for bairns, of all ages, to make
the real thing! Eggs are traditionally given out on Easter Sunday and lets
revive the practice of rolling your Pasch (Scots for Easter ) Egg. (see
http://www.electricscotland.com/culture/features/food/easter_eggs.htm)
There was a festival for "Eastre", a Saxon goddess of fertility, in pre-Christian times which was integrated into the Christian calendar. The date is moveable, because the calculation is based on phases of the Moon. In Scotland, to this day, "hot cross buns" are baked, containing spices and fruit and with a white pastry cross. (See
. http://www.rampantscotland.com/features/festivals.htm
)
A hot
cross bun is a spiced sweet bun made with currants or raisins, marked with
a cross on the top, and traditionally eaten on Good Friday in the UK. The buns
mark the end of Lent and different parts of the hot cross bun have a certain
meaning, including the cross representing the crucifixion of Jesus, and the
spices inside signifying the spices used to embalm him at his burial.
http://foodnessgracious.com/2013/03/traditional-hot-cross-buns/ |
An old rhyme sung by children:
"Hot cross buns!
Hot cross buns!
one a penny, two a penny,
Hot cross buns!
If you have no daughters,
give them to your sons.
One a penny two a penny,
Hot cross buns!"
Hot cross buns!
one a penny, two a penny,
Hot cross buns!
If you have no daughters,
give them to your sons.
One a penny two a penny,
Hot cross buns!"
Easter Bunny
Rabbits, due to their fecund nature, have
always been a symbol of fertility. The Easter bunny (rabbit) however may
actually be an Easter hare. The hare was allegedly a companion of the ancient
Moon goddess and of Eostre.
Strangely the bunny as an Easter symbol
seems to have it's origins in Germany, where it was first mentioned in German
writings in the 16th Century. The first edible Easter bunnies appeared in
Germany during the early 1800s, they were made of pastry and sugar.
In the UK children believe that if they
are good the "Easter Bunny " will leave (chocolate) eggs for them.
(See https://mystrawberryfieldsforever.wordpress.com/2012/04/09/the-easter-bunny/)
(See https://mystrawberryfieldsforever.wordpress.com/2012/04/09/the-easter-bunny/)
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Deep-fried chocolate Easter eggs are sold around Easter time
in Scottish fish and chips shops. The idea was invented in a northeastern
Scottish takeaway as a sequel to the extremely popular deep fried Mars Bar.