by Lenna Gonya

Created on: April 01, 2010

In pre-Christian times eggs were considered a miracle. They were the containers that held new life, and were revered. Spring was also honored and celebrated, since the warmth of the sun came back, new plants emerged, and once again, food could be grown.

In honor of this wonderful time of the year, pagans honored Oestre, or Eostre, the dawn goddess, who was celebrated during ostur-monath, or the month of April. This event usually took place near the spring equinox.

Evidence of this Germanic goddess was documented in an 8th century work, shortly before it was phased out and replaced by Christianity. Supposedly this goddess herself, was re-born each year in the spring.

During the feasts of Eostre, people brought eggs in baskets as a tribute to their goddess, as a symbol of new life. They brought brightly colored flowers in the baskets as well, and, it is believed that they eventually found that they could dye the shells of the eggs.

In some accounts Eostre was actually accompanied by hares, as she appeared, while bringing back the spring season.

After the introduction of Christianity, pagans were encouraged to exchange their spring rituals, honoring the goddess for the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection. They made the transition, but the rabbits and eggs remained part of the custom, and the symbols of new life.

Early Christians kept the basket symbolism by taking their Easter day food to the Church in baskets to be blessed.

Later, eggs became important to Christians celebrating Easter, in that they were forbidden during Lent. Leftover eggs were boiled to keep them during the Lenten season, and, by Easter Day, they were part of the Easter meal.

Somewhere along the way, the rabbit came back into the Easter tradition, and a story evolved that the Easter bunny was responsible for the arrival of eggs on Easter morning, hiding them for children to find.

It didn’t take long for jewelers, chocolate makers, and others to take advantage of the egg theme for Easter, and the designs, materials, and cost became extravagant.

Egg shaped decorations and jewelry were designed. Faberge created jeweled eggs from 1885 until 1917. Some were worn as necklaces, while others were purely decorative. These elaborate eggs were crafted in gold, and many, such as those made for the Russian royal family, were encrusted with jewels.

Earliest colored eggs were generally dyed red, in remembrance of the blood of Christ. Later, eggs were dyed with natural ingredients plant and flower dyes.

Today, eggs have evolved into creative works of art, produced at home,  that children and adults alike enjoy decorating every Easter.





http://www.goddessgift.com/pandora%27s_box/easter-hi story.htm

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