Thursday, March 10, 2011

IN THE EASTER SPIRIT!!

Have you ever stopped to wonder WHY we dye eggs for easter or why we give Easter baskets to kids? Here's a little history on the Easter Egg:

In Pagan times the egg represented the rebirth of the earth, which allowed people to become hopeful of spring after a long winter. With the emergence of spring, the earth burst forth and was reborn, just as an egg bursts forth with new life.

The term Easter comes from Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring, to whom the month of April was dedicated. So, along with the spring equinox and spring festivals, people started exchanging eggs as a symbol of creation, new-life, and a resurrection of nature after winter. With the coming of Christianity, the Easter egg became a religious symbol. The egg changed from representing nature’s rebirth to the rebirth of man. The hatching Easter chick became a symbol of the tomb from which Jesus emerged.

By the Middle Ages decorating and coloring eggs for Easter became the custom in England. The wealthy covered eggs in gold, while the peasants dyed theirs with flowers and herbs.

By the 17th century people started exchanging egg-shaped toys and eventually, by the 19th century, the first chocolate eggs were made in Europe. During this time, Peter Carl Faberge, a well-known goldsmith created the most famous decorated Easter eggs. He was hired by Russian Czar Alexander to make a special Easter gift for his wife. These Faberge eggs had an outside shell of platinum and enameled white which opened to reveal a smaller gold egg. The smaller egg then opened to show a golden chicken and a jeweled replica of the Imperial crown. Fifty-seven of these eggs were made in all.
                                                                                                                          Author: Unknown

Now that I've given you all your history lesson for the day, here are a few mini Easter items I made yesterday. Enjoy and as always have a wonderful mini-filled day!


XOXO,

Melanie

7 comments:

Chris P's Minis and More said...

They are all so beautiful Melanie and I really love the robin blue ones.

Jackie said...

These eggs are awesome! I love the vibrant colors!
Jackie

Anonymous said...

Interesting info there, Melanie, and very pretty, vibrant-colored eggs!

I loved hunting for easter eggs when I was a child.

Regards,
Pamela ~

(By the way, you are invited to visit my new blog and become a follower!)

Kim said...

so cute Mel- and I love knowing some of the history- thank you! The little blue eggs are so cute-and I really love the colored ones on the tray :)

Preble said...

thanks for the history. love that about gold eggs, knew about the rebirth thing, but not why on the colors

Norma said...

Me encantan los huevos azules.

Diane said...

Beautiful eggs! So uniform in color and shape. I like all the colors but am also partial to the blue ones.

Please stop by my blog and take a look. I have just put up a poll and would like you to vote.

Thanks for sharing
Diane in Florida

http://myminiaturesjournal.blogspot.com/