By Jacqueline Kelly –
The identifying of the egg with Easter has been observed in many countries throughout the world since ancient times. The origin of Easter dates back to ancient times, not long after the Global Flood recorded in Genesis 6-9 of the Bible, Nimrod, a grand-son of Noah, had turned from following his grand-father’s God and had become a tyrannical ruler.
According to the Biblical record, the origin of Easter involves the birth of Semiramis’ illegitimate son, Tammuz and Semiramis convinced the people that Tammuz was actually Nimrod reborn. Since people had been looking for the promised saviour since the beginning of mankind [Genesis 3:15], they were persuaded by Semiramis to believe that Tammuz was that saviour.
Contemporary traditions such as the Easter Bunny and the Easter egg can also be traced back to the practices established by Semiramis. Rabbits are great procreators and have long been associated with fertility and its goddess, Ishtar. Ancient Babylonians believed in a fable about an egg that fell into the Euphrates river from heaven and from which Queen Astarte [another name for Ishtar or Semiramis] was “hatched”.
Most cultures around the world use the egg as a symbol of new life and rebirth. The egg has become synonymous with spring’s arrival. Easter is a religious holiday celebrating Christ’s rising, but some of the Easter customs, such as the Easter egg, are most likely derived from pagan traditions. It dates back to Medieval Europe where chickens were a popular source of protein for medieval people – peasants and humble serfs [slaves].
Some Christian missionaries hoped that celebrating Christian holy days at the same time as pagan festivals would encourage conversion, especially if some of the symbols carried over.
Towards, the end of Lent however, eggs could be harvested and hard-boiled to preserve them long enough to keep until Easter. On Easter, Lenten fasts were broken and the most common treat was usually an egg. The egg represents the revival of the fertility of the earth and is a symbol of the secret of life- and was so considered, a fitting emblem for the spring season. The practice of painting and hunting the eggs goes back to ancient times when decorated shells were part of the rituals of spring.
British history goes back to 1290. King Edward I of England showed an expenditure of 18 pence for 450 eggs to be gold-leafed and coloured to be distributed among the “royal entourage” for Easter. Two centuries later, the Vatican sent Henry VIII an egg enclosed in a silver case as a “seasonal present”. Such objects were also known as “egg silver”. Residents of 13th century English villages brought gifts of Easter eggs to their manorial lords every holiday and eggs also became what people would give to the Church as a special offering on “Good Friday”.
In the 16th and 17th centuries residents of a South Western area of Lancashire paid their “Easter dues” in these eggs right through the 18th century even as the gentry switched to cash.
Today, the most famous ultra-decorated Easter eggs are Faberge eggs that were first presented to the Russian Royal Court in the late 19th Century.
For Christians, Easter egg is symbolic of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Instead, of chicken eggs, however, ostrich eggs were used. The first Christians to adopt this tradition were from early Mesopotamia and they coloured their eggs red. Painting Easter egg is an especially beloved tradition in the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches which dates back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries where the eggs are dyed red to represent the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed on the Cross. Easter eggs are blessed by a Priest at the end of the Paschal Vigil and distributed to the congregants. The method of dyeing included using onion skins and placing flowers or leaves onto the shells before dyeing to create patterns.
It is explained that the longing for the colourful flowers of spring following the long cold winter was the motivating force behind the custom of colouring Easter eggs in beautiful colours .Eastern European countries use wax resistant batik to create designs by writing with beeswax. Today, food colouring is most common.
Different countries adopt different traditions using the Easter eggs. This tradition emerged in the 1700’s by German immigrants in America who had a tradition of an egg-laying hare called Osterhase. Their children made nests in which this creature could lay its coloured eggs. It was also a part of the German Lutheran folklore where the “Easter Hare” judged children’s behaviour at the beginning of the Easter tide season.
Some European children go from house to house begging for Easter eggs.
It is called Pace-egging. Decorating small bare tree branches to be “Easter egg trees” has become a popular custom in the U.S. since 1990’s.
Easter egg hunts and egg rolling are two popular egg-related traditions. An egg-hunt involves hiding eggs outside for children to run around and find on Easter morning.
Another, Easter tradition is the Easter egg-roll. In the United States, Easter egg-roll is an annual event that is held on the White House Lawn on a Monday after Easter which dates back to 1876.
Children push their eggs with a wooden spoon whereas in Germany children roll their eggs down a track made of sticks.
Besides eggs, Easter is filled with images of bunnies, baby chicks and lily flowers, because they are all symbols of rebirth.
Eventually, this custom spread and soon the eggs were now man-made. Baskets replaced nests and marzipan, Oreo creme, chocolate and candy and gifts were now filled in these Easter baskets.