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Easter

Published: 9.4.2009
Easter is Christian holiday period. It was a time when crucifixion of Jesus Christ was executed, and his Resurrection and Ascension was effected. Christian worshipment of this Bible story is symbolically composed into several days, known as Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.

Short Easter HistoryEaster

  • Easter is spring holiday of its origin.
  • Jews brought new meaning (sense) to its Pascha Holiday (originally Kanaan spring holiday, 3500 years ago): It was ceremony of leading out and setting free of Jewish nation from Egyptian slavery.
  • Easter got its actual importance by means of Jesus Christ death and his Resurrection.

In Bohemia, Easter is connected, first of all, with spring welcome. At that time, the witches are burnt  - as a sign of winter leave. From the same reason, the Death is thrown away the brook. On Easter Monday, there is a time of Easter osier twig with coloured ribbons, cooked or chocolate eggs or small hares. Nearly in each houshold, the table is decorated with Easter-lamb. So, Easter could be understood as spring arrival, or connected with Resurrection celebration of Jesus Christ.

Fire in whatever execution, from Death burning up to fireworks, is a symbolism of awakening after long winter period. The same sense has an arrival of Jesus Christ during Easter and burning of holy Easter fire. This is main event for Christians. The egg  symbolizes fertility and presents new life, but also a power, immortality, spring return, and, thanks to egg - shell, also safety feeling.

As a gift, the egg has to be full and coloured (decorated). So, red colour is most traditional and Eastersignificant - colour of life. So, decorated egg is named as painted Easter egg. Slavonic tradition  preserved variegated scale of Easter eggs painting, with many used patterns. So, these works developped in Czech countries into specific width. On Easter eggs, there could be distinguished many decorated technics, colour shades and patterns, differing in accordance to regions and time periods. Easter lamb is generally an Easter symbol, and the spring is not the only reason, why the Easter could be connected with him. In past, the lamb became most suitable sacrifice to God, or had to be killed as a celebration of Jewish holidays.

Nevertheless, there exist states, where Easter holidays are celebrated in different way, and this could not be in spring only, as south hemosphere enters into autumn period in the course of Easter time period.

Easter holidays in different countries are celebrated as follows:

England (Great Britain):

The children visit each house in a village and carol (ask for) Easter eggs.

Australia:

Good Friday is the only day in the course of the year, when all shops are closed. During Easter Sunday, children look for eggs, hidden in gardens, which Easter-haze made a present to them.

Bulgaria:

A day (or two days) before Easter, Christian families send to their Turkish friends a loaf of bread, together with 10-15 red coloured eggs, and these take this gift as a great honour. The messenger who gives it, is furnished with small money amount.

France:

In France, church bells are ringing each day, inviting believers for Saint Mass. Anyway, Easter is the exception, when they do not ring, since Maundy Thursday till Holy Saturday. At this time period, all bells flew to Rome, in order to be blessed there, and could return back with eggs and sweets for kind children, receiving later from sky.

Italy:

Priests bless  Easter eggs, which will be put in the middle of the table. Around of these, the plates with food will be placed. It is true that meals are the best traditions in Italy. On Carnival Tuesday, only pancakes are eaten, afterthat, seven weeks of fasting follow.

Ireland:

Morning, during Easter time period, the eggs are eaten, in order the fasting could be terminated. Anyway, who would like to obtain Easter cake, he has to dance at first.

Mexico:

On Easter Eve, after dusk, the streets in towns and villages are full of crowds of people. They have pictures or paper boxes with sweets, these are symbols of Judas. These are hung, burnt or beaten with stick so long, when the wrappers tear through and all sweets fall down.

Germany:

On Easter Eve, children manufacture straw nests. Their parents hide it at home or in garden. Later, Easter haze brings variegated coloured eggs. On Easter Monday in the morning, children try to find it. There are also exchanged gifts hidden in package in form of egg. Another Easter custom: Easter tree, decorated with eggs.

Russia:

During celebration of Orthodox Easter, Russians let the eggs to be blessed in church, and later, they eat it, just cooked, on occasion of Easter lunch. Easter lamb and Easter cake is available, but  Easter osier twig is unknown there.

Greece:

During Orthodox Easter, there is taken place so called eggs-battle in Greek families. The participants try their best, throwing their eggs to smash the eggs of adversaries. Anyway, Easter in Greece are similar to thoise of Czech Republic. It is standard custom to exchange the gifts, as on Christmas. Main feature of Greek Easter: feasting and rejoice in family circle.

Denmark:

In this country, the tradition of persiflage letters prevails. Before Easter, in the course of several weeks, children write so called „chaff verses“, and they are sent as letters later. These letters are anonymous and are signed with certain number of dots, so the recipient has the chance to guess the author of the letter. A snowdrop, as a symbol of first spring flower, is put into a letter. Within Easter days, the breweries cook special beer-drink, which is much more stronger as standard beer.

Portugal:

In Portugal, there are set fires of enormous piles of wood on Good Friday. People burn straw puppets, resembling to Judas. On this day, they are preparing Easter omelettes filled in with bacon. On Easter Sunday, there are usually eaten small kids or lamb, nevertheless, even small pigs are served. In some areas, the cakes, filled in with several sorts of meats and eggs are served.

Norway:

Easter in Norway is characteristic with snowed up hillsides, full of efficient skiers and excursionists, with occupied cottages and nearly depopulated towns. Children have their holidays within whole Easter week, so, it is standard situation that all necessary things will be packed in car and set out for the journey to mountain houses and cottages.

Netherlands

Children walk in processions on Palm Sunday and visit farms, collect eggs for Easter sports. On Easter Sunday, there is prepared special food - Paasbrood – i.e. sweet bread with raisins and red currant. On the other hand, Easter Monday is determined for a play with eggs. Small children try to find eggs which are hidden in gardnes around houses.

Sweden

On Maundy Thursday, witch night culminated. So, there was necessary to protect children, in order the witches cold not take them away for sabat. Easter letters are greetings similar to Valentine greetings. They are decorated with a picture of witch, and inside, you can find house made verses. Birch rods, ornamented at the end of twigs with coloured feathers, are characterictic Easter decoration.

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Text: Denisa Arvajová

Foto: Wikimedia.org., aineias, Lienhard Sculz, Kris de Curtis, Karakal, Neoneo 13, L. Kenzel  



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