easter symbol

Passover Lamb
Among the symbols of the popular Easter, lamb is the most important in this great celebration. Passover lamb, which symbolizes Christ, with the flag of victory, can be seen in the paintings mounted on houses European family. The most ancient prayer for the blessing of the lambs was found in the ritual book the Benedictine monastery in the seventh century Bobbio, Italy. Two hundred years later Romans used it and after that, for centuries later, the main menu dinner at the pope on the Feast of Easter is a lamb roast. After the tenth century, instead of lamb, whole, presented the pieces of meat are much smaller.

Tradiri ancient Passover lamb was also inspired Christians to provide lamb meat as a popular dish during Easter. Until now, the lamb meat is presented as the main menu of Easter Sunday in different parts of eastern Europe. But, often forms little lamb made of butter, bread or candy dish replaces the lamb meat, and a main course Passover meal.

In the past centuries, is considered a sign of luck if people see a lamb, especially during Easter. Is a popular superstition that the devil, who can take the form of all sorts of animals, was never allowed to appear in the form of a lamb because of its religious symbols.


EASTER EGGS

Easter eggs originated from the tradition of Indo-European fertility. For those not familiar with our ancestors Christianity, really is an amazing event witnessed a new creature emerged from a seemingly dead object. For them, the egg is a symbol of spring. In the past, in Persian, the mutual reward regular eggs during the spring equinox, which for them also marks the commencement of a new year.

In Christian times, eggs have a religious meaning, namely as a symbol of the rock tomb from which Christ came out to meet a new life through His resurrection. In addition there are practical reasons that make the eggs as a special sign of Easter joy, that is because, first, the egg is one food abstinence during Lent. The believers from the beginning has been coloring Easter eggs with bright colors, ask for blessings upon it, ate it, and give them to friends and friends as Easter gifts.

The tradition of Easter eggs developed among the nations of northern Europe and in Asia soon after they convert to Christianity. However, among the nations of southern Europe, and thus also in South America, the tradition of Easter eggs never became popular.

Roman Ritual has a specific procedure for the blessing of Easter eggs:

"We pray Thee, O Lord, bestow Your blessing upon these eggs, making healthy food for the faithful, who gratefully ate it in honor of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ."

At mid-century, according to tradition the eggs were distributed on the Feast of Easter to all servants. There are records that King Edward I of England (1307) ordered 450 eggs boiled before Easter, colored or covered with golden leaves, which are then divided them out to all members of the royal family at Passover.

Easter eggs are usually distributed to children as Easter gifts along with other gifts. This habit is firmly rooted in Germany where the eggs called "Dingeier" (egg-egg "dihutang"). The children had not waited in demanding what is "dihutang" from them, and thus developed a variety of rhyme in France, Germany, Austria and England, where the children, even today, demanding the Easter eggs as their prize. Here is one of them who came from Austria:

We sing, we sing the Easter song:
God makes you healthier, stronger and smarter.
Disease and hurricanes and all manner of evil
presumably far away from relatives, and livestock and fields.
Now, give us eggs,
green, blue and red;
if not, children will die all your chicken.

In some areas of Ireland, the children collect the eggs of geese and ducks during Holy Week, to be given as gifts on Easter Sunday. Previously, on Palm Sunday, they make small nests of stone, and throughout the Holy Week, they collect as many eggs, store them in their stone nests hidden. On Easter Sunday, they ate it all, share them with other children who are still too small to collect their own eggs.

Adults also gave eggs as gifts in Ireland. The number of eggs that will be awarded is determined according to the ancient proverb among the people of Ireland: "One egg for a real man; two eggs for gentlemen; three eggs to the poor; four eggs for the poorest [beggars]."

In most countries, the eggs were given a plain color with dyes from plants. Among the Chaldeans, Syrians and Greeks, the faithful reward each other eggs red in honor of the blood of Christ. In areas in Germany and Austria, only the green eggs are used on Maundy Thursday, but the eggs are colorful used during the celebration of Easter. Slavic people create special patterns of gold and silver. In Germany and in several central European countries, eggs are used to cook the Easter meal is not solved, but pierced with a needle at both ends, and the contents removed by blowing into a bowl. Empty egg shells are given to children for use in a variety of Easter games. In some areas of Germany, the empty egg shells are hung on the bushes and trees throughout the week of Easter, like Christmas trees. Armenian people decorate their empty egg shells with pictures of the Risen Christ, the Virgin Mary, and other religious images, to be administered to children as Easter gifts.

Various Games Using Eggs

Easter is a time period of playing with egg all over mainland Europe. Competition egg mashed with a variety of variations mostly done in Syria, Iraq, and also Iran. In Norway, the game was called knekke (percussion). In Germany, Austria and France, hard boiled egg rolled in the field or hill and mutual pitted, cracked eggs that remained until the end declared as "egg victory." This game is very popular in America through the feast of egg rolls in the field, the White House in Washington.

Another common tradition among the children is a race to find the eggs, both in the home or in the garden on Easter Sunday. In France, children listen to fairy tales that Easter eggs dropped from the church bells on their way back from Rome. In Germany and Austria, a small baskets of eggs, pies and candy placed in hidden places, and the children believe that the Easter bunny, who is also so popular in this country, have laid the eggs and candy.

In Russia and Ukraine and also Poland, people start their Easter meal with joy after the long Lenten period of fasting with an egg that has been blessed on Easter Sunday. Before you sit down to eat, the father will be carefully distributed a small part of an Easter egg to every member of your family and guests, as he happily congratulated on this holy day. Before they ate the eggs of their part in silence, they will not sit down to eat their Passover meal.


EASTER RABBIT

Easter Bunny comes from the tradition of fertility before the Christian community. Rabbits are the most fertile animals according to the ancestors, so the rabbit is used as a symbol of new life that is abundant in the spring. Easter Bunny has never had religious meaning in the celebration of Easter, even though the meat is white, sometimes, is said to symbolize purity and flawless. Church never gave a special blessing for the rabbit. However, the rabbit gets a nice role in the celebration of Easter as producer legend of Easter eggs for children in various countries. In various regions in Germany, believed that the Easter bunny laid red eggs on Maundy Thursday and eggs of various colors on the night before Easter Sunday. Easter rabbits in the form of cookies and candy became popular in southern Germany, and now cakes and sweets is a very popular children in various countries.


PIG

Do not forget the pig which gives the meat as a dish in the traditional Passover meal. Pigs are always symbolizes good luck and prosperity among the people of Indo-European. Remnants of this ancient symbol is still alive in our day. Children's piggy bank in the form of pigs, for example, is a manifestation of this ancient tradition.

Is a tradition handed down from pre-Christian times, to eat pork in various celebrations. The British and Scandinavians eat them, the Germans and Slavs ate pork roast on Christmas Day. Also, in various regions of Europe, the roast pork is still the main meal in the traditional weddings and the celebrations. During Easter, ham, lamb meat also, to fine dining most European nations since the past, and is a traditional Easter menu in many areas.