Easter is celebrated around the world. Here are 5 interesting facts:
- Easter eggs are also called Paschal eggs. Legend has it that Mary Magdalene was bringing cooked eggs to share at the grave of Jesus and the eggs in her basket turned red when she saw the resurrection. There are variations of this legend. The word “paschal” is the equivalent of Greek “pascha”, meaning “the passing over”
- Easter eggs are said to symbolize the empty tomb of Jesus, and eternal life. The egg is widely used as a symbol of the start of new life, just as new life emerges from an egg when the chick hatches out.
- The practice of decorating eggs is ancient, pre-dating Christian traditions. Decorated ostrich eggs as old as 60,000 years have been found in Africa.
- There are good grounds for the association between hares (later termed Easter bunnies) and eggs, through folklore confusion between hares’ forms (where they raise their young) and plovers’ nests. Plovers are ground nesting birds.
- Hot cross buns, made by European monks, are counted amongst the earliest Easter treats. They were given out to poor people during the month of Lent.
Happy Easter!
