IN FRANCE, the
children roll raw eggs down a small hill to see which will reach the bottom
without breaking. The surviving egg is
said to symbolize the stone being rolled away from the tomb.
IN
GERMANY, a popular Easter tradition is the “egg tree.” A small branch is put in a vase about two
weeks before Easter, and eggs that have been painted and decorated are hung
form the branch to celebrate birth and blessings.
IN
IRELAND, people dance in the streets on Easter Sunday. The dancers compete for cakes and other sweet
treats. Priests also bless and
distribute holy water to families on Easter.
Each member of the household is sprinkled, then the house, and finally
any livestock - all to symbolize new life in Christ.
IN POLAND,
Easter
is celebrated with the Blessing Basket.
Poles prepare the basket the Saturday before Easter. Inside the basket they place beautifully
colored eggs (to symbolize the Risen Christ), bread, cake and salt (for good
health and a prosperous life), and white-colored sausages (for enough food, and
fertility in the coming spring). The
gasket is then blessed at church on Easter Sunday.
IN ITALY, church
bells ring joyfully during the year. But
the bells stop ringing on Holy Thursday, remaining silent through the next few
days while people remember the death of Jesus.
On Easter Sunday morning, the bells ring out, telling people that Jesus
is alive again. When people hear the
bells, they kiss and hug in celebration!
IN
BULGARIA, two partners, eggs in hand, greet each other three times with
“Christ is Risen!” then tap the eggs against each other to crack them.
“Take Out/Family Faith on the Go,”
Easter/April 2009
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