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Old 04-07-2004, 04:57 PM   #4
Melusine
Dracolisk
 

Join Date: January 8, 2001
Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Age: 44
Posts: 6,541
Quote:
Originally posted by Jaradu:
In England, we rarely, if ever, have easter egg hunts in the garden. However, as we are easily influenced by American tradition, many families may have taken the idea and practice it
It's the other way round dude. If Americans have easter egg hunts, they were influenced by old European traditions, not the other way round.
Easter is originally a pagan celebration. Eostre was a pagan (Teutonic) goddess of spring, fertility (hence the eggs) and dawn. Easter was celebrated on the spring equinox. When Europe was christianised the Christian converters incorporated pagan ritual and tradition into their religion so as not to make the transition for the newly converted too difficult.

PS. Nitpick: it's resurrection.

[ 04-07-2004, 04:59 PM: Message edited by: Melusine ]
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