Since I lived in Germany, many years ago, the Easter tree, OSTER BAUM, is a really loved tradition also for me. I remember how much fascinated I was the first time I saw branches decorated with brightly colored eggs in the shop windows in Düsseldorf ……
Patrizia’s tree, in shades of blue, strongly recalls the religious meaning: the eggs represent the buds of birth to new life, the Resurrection of Jesus.
Beyond the religious significance, eggs are at the center of Easter traditions throughout the world.
In Germany, Austria and Switzerland they are colored and hidden in the garden or inside the house, then the children are invited to look for them, leaving them to believe that they have been left behind by rabbits.
Beyond the religious significance, eggs are at the center of Easter traditions throughout the world.
In England, among the various events for this occasion – meetings with the Easter bunny, rubber ducks and workshops to make sweets – very nice is the dance, of Victorian tradition, held in Blists Hill: the inhabitants dance for the town, trying not to step on the eggs placed along the way.
In the Scandinavian countries yhey still play a well known game: they roll the eggs down from a slope: the one who throws them farther keeping the shell intact wins.
In Denmark they begin to celebrate Easter as soon as possible: they buy small tulips, daffodils, hyacinths. snowdrops and primroses to be planted in the garden after festivities that are cheered by an exclusively Easter beer, the Påskebryg.
The eggs in Northern Europe also take on other less religious meanings: going to church with a “born” egg in your pocket on Holy Thursday unmasks the witches, placing one in every corner of a field instead helps to have an abundant harvest. The Orthodox celebrate the recurrence of the dead on the Friday after Easter. On this occasion someone colors the red eggs and puts them on top of the graves, as a wish for happy afterlife for the beloved dead. This tradition is linked to the legend of Mary who was amusing her Child with colored eggs: Easter Day, when he went to the sepulcher, he found red ones scattered all around.
Happy Easter!
Mara
