Easter
Apr 17
Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day
Today's Musings, History & Folklore
"Egbert the Easter Egg
Was a pretty little Easter Egg.
Cutest thing you ever saw,
In the window of a big department store."
~ Egbert the Easter Egg, Ben Bloom, 1952
Whether you have mid-century modern memories of dye tablets and vinegar baths; use natural vegetable/fruits/herbs to dye your eggs; or have a family tradition of elaborate egg decorating techniques from Eastern Europe, coloured and decorated eggs have played a prominent role in Easter and Spring celebrations since ancient time and are heavily imbued with symbolic and mystical connections. In some traditions, it was the women’s task to decorate the Easter eggs. During this process, men were not allowed within the house, since it was believed they could cause bad luck by putting a spell on the eggs! When finished, the decorated eggs were thought to bring luck and fortune to the owners, and could be used to protect the family by burying a decorated egg at the front door of one’s home. So whether you decorate them, roll them, hunt for them, tap them, or eat them, Happy Easter! 🥚
The Easter Egg
Happy Easter!
Beyond the historic and religious symbolism of rebirth, the Easter Egg is now incorporated into holiday food rituals, treats, and games!
Egg hunts are games played with decorated eggs, real or artificial, sometimes filled with or made of chocolate candies for children to find indoors or outdoors.
Egg rolling is also a traditional Easter egg game. In the United Kingdom, Germany, and other countries children traditionally rolled eggs down hillsides at Easter. This tradition was taken to the New World by European settler and continues to this day each Easter with an Easter egg roll on the White House lawn.
In the North of England, during Eastertide, a traditional game is played where hard boiled pace eggs are distributed and each player hits the other player's egg with their own. This is known as "egg tapping", "egg dumping", or "egg jarping". The winner is the holder of the last intact egg. The annual egg jarping world championship is held every year over Easter in Peterlee Cricket Club.
An Egg Dance is a traditional Easter game in which eggs are laid on the ground or floor and the goal is to dance among them without damaging any eggs. This game is believed to have originated in Germany. In the UK the dance is called the "hop-egg."
Nowadays, the term "Easter Egg" also refers to a hidden feature in video games or other software. Designers often hide an unexpected or undocumented feature in a piece of computer software or on a DVD, included as a joke or a bonus.
For an Easter Treat of web-based Easter Eggs you may not yet have encountered, click the eggs!
