Wishing everyone a happy Easter holiday.
I am spending mine gardening and doing various writing projects as I wait for my editor to get back with her thoughts.
Slowly but surely the garden is starting to look less like an unkept jungle and more like a cultivated garden again. You would not believe the amount of ivy we have burnt over the last few days. My youngest son has learnt about what happens when you put a very dry ex Christmas tree on a bonfire. The holly tree will recover in time. It is a good lesson.
I had a piece of good news yesterday. My short story His Stand In Bride was published in print somewhere in the world (rather than just being in digital). It pleased me no end as I thought it was only ever going to be in digital. I also got paid some more money for it as per my contract which was very welcome. It remains up as a free read on Harlequin. in case people haven't read it.
Showing posts with label Easter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Easter. Show all posts
Friday, April 06, 2012
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Easter, eggs and that bunny
Why the connection between eggs and Easter? It is not the chocolate manufacturer's gimmick.
Eggs were forbidden during Lent, but they were also a Christian symbol. An egg symbolises rebirth and renewal. New life. Easter eggs used to be called Pace (or Passion) eggs. Although most people give a chocolate eggs in Britain, people in many other countries still decorate hard boiled eggs for gifts. In Greece, as far as I can recall, the eggs are dyed red to symbolise the Lord's Passion. So there is a religous significance to eating eggs on Easter.
The word Easter most probably comes from the Anglo Saxon goddess Oestre. One of her animals was the hare. It should be noted that the Lord's Passion was more than likely celebrated in Britain BEFORE any rites to Oestre as the Saxon did not arrive until the 5th century. Christianity was definitely wide-spread in Northumberland during the 4th century -- IE the one found at Vindolanda. Another example would be Constantine the Great's acclamation at York in 306. Much was lost when the pagan Saxons invaded. When the Anglo-Saxons were Christianized, the festival's name stayed the same and the meaning changed. Oestre's fertility rites happened in the Spring.
The Easter bunny is Germanic and a relatively recent addition in Britain. As the Saxons were a Germanic people, it is possible that this is a hang over from the Oestre fertility rites. Germanic references to an Easter hare stretch back to the 1500s. Another version of the old hare v rabbit arguement -- is the Easter bunny really a hare?
The making of chocolate eggs of course happened during the Victorian period. This is because of technological innovations. Many people of course give up chocolate for Lent.
This is just in case anyone is interested.
Sold and Seduced went on sale in the UK yesterday (officially) I need to get a photo of it.
Happy Easter to one and all. May you enjoy your Pace eggs, even if you didn't know they had another meaning.
Eggs were forbidden during Lent, but they were also a Christian symbol. An egg symbolises rebirth and renewal. New life. Easter eggs used to be called Pace (or Passion) eggs. Although most people give a chocolate eggs in Britain, people in many other countries still decorate hard boiled eggs for gifts. In Greece, as far as I can recall, the eggs are dyed red to symbolise the Lord's Passion. So there is a religous significance to eating eggs on Easter.
The word Easter most probably comes from the Anglo Saxon goddess Oestre. One of her animals was the hare. It should be noted that the Lord's Passion was more than likely celebrated in Britain BEFORE any rites to Oestre as the Saxon did not arrive until the 5th century. Christianity was definitely wide-spread in Northumberland during the 4th century -- IE the one found at Vindolanda. Another example would be Constantine the Great's acclamation at York in 306. Much was lost when the pagan Saxons invaded. When the Anglo-Saxons were Christianized, the festival's name stayed the same and the meaning changed. Oestre's fertility rites happened in the Spring.
The Easter bunny is Germanic and a relatively recent addition in Britain. As the Saxons were a Germanic people, it is possible that this is a hang over from the Oestre fertility rites. Germanic references to an Easter hare stretch back to the 1500s. Another version of the old hare v rabbit arguement -- is the Easter bunny really a hare?
The making of chocolate eggs of course happened during the Victorian period. This is because of technological innovations. Many people of course give up chocolate for Lent.
This is just in case anyone is interested.
Sold and Seduced went on sale in the UK yesterday (officially) I need to get a photo of it.
Happy Easter to one and all. May you enjoy your Pace eggs, even if you didn't know they had another meaning.
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