SC - Re: [TY] Easter Celebrations

[Christine A Seelye-King]

> 	Easter eggs were served on Easter day and were colored red
> to symbolize joy. (N.B. the CE doesn't give a date on this one so
> I will not vouch for its strict periodness)

	This is thought to be a result of travelers in the Middle East observing
the red eggs there.  Here is the listing for Easter from my book.
Christianna

Easter* - Christian - Celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus. Mary
Magdalene and some companions visited the tomb of Jesus, and the Angel of
the Lord appeared and told them He was risen. Legend has it that the sun
jumps for joy on Easter morning, so many churches have sunrise services.
In the 8th century the Venerable Bede suggested that the word "Easter"
may have come from Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon name of a Teutonic goddess of
spring and fertility. Saxons ate cross-inscribed loaves in her honor. 
Her symbol was a hare, which may explain the custom of the Easter hare,
or rabbit, who brings Easter eggs. The egg may have become a special
Easter symbol of rebirth because eggs were long one of the foods
forbidden during Lent. The use of Easter Eggs among Christians came into
use around 700 AD.  The tradition of coloring eggs probably began with
medieval travelers to Egypt and Persia, where people colored eggs for
their spring festivals.  Red eggs symbolized the Blood of Christ, a
chicken meant the fulfillment of one's dreams, the sun presages good
luck,  flowers for love and understanding, good health is assured by a
deer or a stag, and prosperity by a pig.  In Lancastershire, England, the
children participate in Pace-Egging, where they roll Easter eggs down a
hill.  It was said to commemorate Christ's tomb stone rolling away from
the crypt.   Norsemen also had the word Eostur, Eastur, Ostara, or Ostar,
meaning season of the growing sun.  (April 25th is the latest day on
which Easter Sunday can occur.  The earliest day on which it can fall is
March 22nd.)
Lambri* - Greece - "Bright Day" is how Greeks describe Easter. The night
before, all lights go out. At midnight, a priest enters holding a candle,
proclaiming the Resurrection of Christ. His candle is used to light the
candles every person holds. The church bells ring, ships sound their
whistles, and firecrackers go off. Afterward, people celebrate with
dancing, roast lamb, and Easter eggs, which Greeks dye red only. 
________________________________________________________________
YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET!
Juno now offers FREE Internet Access!
Try it today - there's no risk!  For your FREE software, visit:
http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.