Easter History And Most Popular Symbols

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On Easter weekend those of the Christian faith (Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants, Anglicans, Baptists...) celebrate the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Thus, Easter is the most important Christian celebration of the year.

In the Germanic languages, "Easter" - also called "Pascha" - was taken from "Eastre", the Saxon goddess associated to the Spring. Indeed, many years ago, the Saxons celebrated the god of the Spring, called "Eostre" and held festivals every year to celebrate the Spring Equinox, when the day and the night were equal length.

These festivals were celebrated to ensure fertility across both the land and people.

The Saxons converted to Christianity and the name of their celebration became "Easter" in order to celebrate both the Spring and the religious Pascha times. The idea behind the two occasions is different, but they share common symbols and traditions that people still use today.

Since many centuries, in addition to the religious Easter traditions people celebrate the festive Easter season by organizing family gatherings, giving presents, sending greeting cards and much more.

Easter, both religious and popular has its symbols. Here are a few ones:

The Easter Bells

In some European countries, Easter bells have a great symbolic aspect. In the ancient times, the bells of our churches were ringing every day of the year to invite people to attend the mass, to celebrate a royal wedding, the birth of a prince, or for any other public event.

Since Jesus died on Good Friday and resurrected on Easter Sunday, stop ringing for these three days and leave our countries for Rome. Bells will ring again on Easter Sunday, returning from Rome where they have been blessed by the pope and brought Easter eggs.

Besides Jesus' resurrection, they also symbolize the rebirth of the Spring.

The Easter Eggs

The use of eggs in celebration existed long before our modern day observance.

Indeed, in Egypt and ancient Persia, people were used to dye eggs with the colors of the spring and gave them to their relatives. Eggs were considered as symbols of rebirth.

Centuries ago, Christian people gathered on the public places and were looking for eggs: after the privations of Lent, Christians appreciated to eat those eggs. It was the forerunner of our Easter egg hunt.

The Easter Chicken

Where do the eggs come from? From the chicken... so, as the chicken gives her eggs (decorated or not) it's an essential Easter symbol.

The Easter chicken custom is popular in many countries but originated from Austria. Today, it is often symbolized by a chicken made out of chocolate.

The Easter Bunny

The rabbit was the symbol of Eastre, the Saxon goddess. The idea of the rabbit as a part of Christian tradition was introduced in colonial days by the Germans.

The hare and the rabbit were associated to the Easter eggs for the first time in Alsace and Germany six centuries ago.

In some countries, Children are taught that the Easter Bunny brings treats on the night before Easter.

The Lamb

In the New Testament, Jesus is often identified with the lamb, and especially the paschal lamb, as there is a parallel between his death and that of the paschal lamb - the lamb, is sacrificed in both western and eastern religions. By the blood of Jesus Christ, the people of God is released from death and can enter into a new life.

And so, in many countries, people eat a leg of lamb on Easter Sunday.

The Cross

The symbol of the cross has been associated with Christianity and Easter since the first centuries after Jesus' death. The cross was a symbol of Jesus, who died to save all those who receive baptism, it was also a symbol of cruelty throughout the Roman Empire.

Today Christians view the cross as a symbol of courage and salvation.

The lily

This flower; which is also an Easter symbol, is a Japanese flower. The lily is the symbol of the arrival of the Spring, purity and holiness. This flower is known for its beauty and its pride.

A legend says that at the time Jesus went to a place, all the flowers, plants and animals bowed to his passage, except the lilies: they were too proud.

But when the lilies saw Jesus on the cross, their head bent and since that day, they continue to bend their head as a sign of respect.

The Easter Water

It is an old custom that disappears...

Early in the morning, before sunrise, people went to the river and brought several gallons water. The Easter water and a branch that people received at the church on the Sunday before Easter Sunday were used the bless the home and protect it against bad weather. People also drank this water to cure diseases.

Happy Easter!

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The Symbols of Easter

Easter's pastel tablecloths serving as the perfect background to beautiful Easter decor, or a basket brimming with scrumptious treats, furry bunnies, and brightly colored eggs hidden in the grass, conjure images of delight in the minds of all of us lucky enough to have experienced the family fun that surrounds the captivating holiday of Easter. The most spiritual of Christian holidays in today's world, Easter actually finds its origins in the ancient Hebrew and Pagan religions, as well. Even in the present day, we can recognize the Pagan fertility symbol of the hare, or our Easter Bunny, and the vibrantly colored eggs he brings, as the representation of spring's rebirth after the long stillness of winter.

Indeed, decorating in the colors of Easter can afford us the sweet and charming addition of spring to our home decors or gardens. And, as Easter Sunday approaches, preparing our homes for holiday brunch or dinner can add an irresistible sense of whimsy to this significant celebration. Beginning with the primary layer of our decorations, our Easter tablecloths can be selected from a myriad of pastel tablecloths that are offered by today's linen vendors and manufacturers. Whether we are looking for round tablecloths of lilac Fortex with square tablecloths of maize Fortex to place on top of them, or whether we are looking for rectangular party tablecloths in pinks to combine with pale green party tablecloths, utilizing Easter's palette of pastel tablecloths is the perfect way to incorporate all the enchanting colors of spring into our homes.

Creating the Perfect Easter Table

Additionally, in the exciting current marketplace, we can find holiday tablecloths of almost any shape and size. That's right! Whether we need large tablecloths or small tablecloths, oval tablecloths or custom tablecloths, we can certainly find them all. This variety of tablecloth size enables us to create layers of all our favorite Easter colors. There is also a wonderful new tool in the market place that can very easily be clipped to our top tablecloth in order to create an attractive swag. This clever new Couvert Clip enables us to cinch up our top tablecloth in such a lovely way, and yet, is easy enough for any of us to use. The Couvert Clip not only relieves us of having to form that artistic swag that florists and professional party planners take pains to create with fabric-damaging pins, but it also adds fun and delight to our decorations because these adorable new tablecloth clips can be adorned with any number of decorating themes. For example, after using the Couvert Clip to cinch up our Easter tablecloths, the brightly painted and sparkling, wooden Easter eggs that come with the Easter set of Couvert Clips, can be added to the Velcro patch provided on the outside of each tablecloth clip. If we prefer, we can even create our own designs that can be just as easily attached to the tablecloth clip's Velcro. The fun we can have with these tablecloth clips is only limited by our own imaginations.

Still another way to include Easter's palette of pastels to our holiday decor is in our secondary layer of decorations. This is where we add cloth napkins in the same colors of our tablecloths, and alternate them as we place them on our pretty holiday tables. Matching chair covers and coordinating chair ties can also be utilized to make all of our mismatched or darkly upholstered chairs become part of the charming expression of our design.

Finally, we can incorporate the crowning layer of our special Easter decor. Beautiful spring flowers arranged into centerpieces, along with graceful tapered candles standing tall in cut crystal candle holders, can be positioned on each table. Or, we can rest a rustic basket in the center of every one of our tablecloths, and fill each of them with moss and the colored eggs that the children have rediscovered in our gardens. Whether we chose delightful bouquets, or charming homemade crafts to create our final touches, Easter has provided us with the perfect chance to surround our families with love and special memories through our celebration and creativity.

For more information, please visit Linen Lovers for all your table cloth and chair cover needs!

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