...to all my Christian friends!
The Wheel of the Year for pagans and pantheists
Us pagans have just celebrated Oestra's spring equinox on March 21, and soon will celebrate Beltaine on May 1st.
And we do claim the practice of hunting for colored eggs and a rabbit, which have been brought into the Easter practices!
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The tradition of Easter eggs actually has roots in both Christian and pre-Christian customs. In many ancient cultures, eggs symbolized new life and fertility, representing the arrival of spring. Early Christians adopted this symbolism, associating eggs with the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
During Lent, a period of fasting before Easter, eggs were historically not to be eaten, so they were often hard-boiled and stored for later consumption. When Easter arrived, people would decorate and share them as a celebration of Christ’s resurrection and the end of fasting. Over time, this tradition evolved, leading to modern Easter egg hunts, and the decorated Easter eggs we use today.
While Easter eggs did come to have Christian symbolism representing Jesus' resurrection, the tradition actually stretches back much further. Long before chocolate bunnies and marshmallow chicks took over store shelves, cultures around the world were using eggs in celebrations of fertility, renewal, and the changing seasons. Ancient Egyptians, Persians, and Romans all viewed eggs as powerful symbols of rebirth, often exchanging them as gifts during spring festivals.
Some historians even believe Easter eggs came from Anglo-Saxon festivals in the spring to celebrate the pagan goddess Eostre. The goddess, who is also believed to be the namesake of Easter, represented the dawn in spring. So, in order to celebrate her, eggs were buried and eaten during the festival as they represent new life after winter. Many other pagan traditions from the festival of Eostre, such as hot cross buns and the Easter bunny, were adopted by Christian missionaries to celebrate Christ and encourage conversion.
Believe it or not, Easter egg hunts hatched in Germany back in the 17th century! Some researchers say the tradition is linked to the German folklore of the Osterhase (Easter Hare), a mythical creature that would lay colorful eggs for well-behaved children to find. Sound familiar?
Though the practice of hiding and hunting for eggs likely stems from older European spring fertility rituals, protestant reformer Martin Luther would organize egg hunts for children, with men hiding the eggs and women and children searching for them—possibly representing the discovery of Christ’s empty tomb.
By the 18th century, German immigrants brought the tradition to America, where it became widely popular. In the 19th century, European candy manufacturers began to make egg-shaped chocolates and candies to celebrate Easter. In 1878, the White House held its first Easter egg roll and the tradition still continues today!
Source: Pioneering Woman
Having a nice conservative Christian upbringing, I loved coloring eggs as a child. Then with more artistic bent, I made little people's faces with hats on "blown out" eggs, which sat in little collars. I certainly dyed eggs with my children also.
And then I learned I was really a pagan at heart, loving nature completely...without anyone dying on a cross before celebrating life.
By Welch artist Jackie Morris
Whisper in the Wind (circa 2018) by British textile artist Fiona Gill