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> Columnist > Spring celebrations around the world
Spring celebrations around the worldBy Peggy Melanson, Special to PRIME
Easter is the Christian celebration of the resurrection of Christ, and Emperor Constantine decreed it would be celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon of the vernal equinox. This date may fall in a 35-day range from March 22 to April 25.
Passover Commemoration
Passover is also honored around this time. Jewish families celebrate the Seder ceremony, usually held at home and is the highlight of Passover. The day commemorates the freeing of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. It's celebrated with a special meal featuring a reading of the Passover story from a book called the Haggadah.
Eggs and the Easter Bunny
Many Easter traditions have developed involving eggs. It's thought that pagan spring festivals in China, Egypt and Persia featured eggs, valued because they came from birds, the animals that get closest to the gods. Candied eggs and rabbits are popular in many countries, particularly Germany, and the traditional Easter bunny is thought to have developed there.
One explanation for why the rabbit brings eggs is that the pagan spring goddess Eostre turned a bird into a hare, which continued its nesting and egg laying habits. In Greece, red is the color of mourning, and red dyed eggs represent the tomb of Christ. Some people believe that eggs on Easter symbolize the opening of the tomb and the resurrection. In the Ukraine, the art of decorating eggs with intricate designs is known as Pysanka.
Traditionally, younger persons receive eggs that are mostly white because their lives are yet to be lived; conversely, elders receive eggs that are dark colored with complex designs because their lives are almost complete. Egg rolling, which is an Easter tradition in several countries may symbolize the rolling of the stone away from the door of Jesus' tomb.
One of the more unusual egg traditions is found in Thailand, where the white of an egg is poured into water on Good Friday to predict the future. Sardines at Easter
Another unusual holiday in April is called the Festival of the Sardine. In a ceremony whose history is lost to the ages, the end of the Easter season is celebrated in Murcia, Spain with a parade through the town ending with the burning of a huge, papier-mache sardine.
Latino Catholics celebrate with cascarones. Easter and La Semana Santa, or Holy Week is one of the highest holy days of the year for Latino Catholics. In Latin America and Spain, the week leading up to Easter involves solemn processions, prayer, masses and other preparations for Jesus' rebirth. Customs in the United States include Mexican cascarones, the Mexican version of an Easter egg, or eggshells filled with confetti. They're meant to be cracked on someone's head as a funny surprise.
In Cambodia, the most significant holiday of the year is called Chaul Chnam, beginning on April 13 and lasting for three days. Special foods, such as fried coconut and bananas rolled in coconut are offered to the New Year Angel, who descends with good luck or ill will for the upcoming year.
Witches and burning Rosemary
In rural regions of Austria, Walpurgisnacht is celebrated. During the Middle Ages, it was believed that witches filled the skies on the eve of St. Walpurgis Day at the end of April. Torches topped with rosemary are burned so the smoke will repel the evil beings. In Sweden, the witches have become known as Easter hags. Children dress up as witches on the Thursday before Easter and offer Easter greeting cards and letters to friends and neighbors in exchange for sweets or coins.
"Teaching and Inspiring Others" won Peggy Melanson the opportunity to be a Torchbearer for the 2002 Olympics. She was also awarded "Cool Woman of America" by American Movie Classics Television Network. As a freelance writer, she has written columns for several New England magazines and newspapers. She is the designer and presenter of "Finding the Courage to Create" creative writing/ arts workshops. Peggy is presently working on her memoir, "Dancing on the Roof" that can be seen at www.myfamilymemoirs.com - For more information log onto her website at www.findingcourage.com email her at peggymelanson@yahoo.com
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