Egg Basket

Egg Basket

Easter Basket Traditions and History

Easter baskets are a symbol of the holiday. What would Easter be without baskets filled to the brim with candy treats such as chocolates and jellybeans, all of these usually in the shape of an egg or a rabbit. In addition, these candies may be hidden in hollow plastic eggs in a variety of colors. If you were lucky, there would be Easter egg hunts where you could search for boiled, colored eggs or the plastic ones filled with chocolates of every conceivable shape and flavor. Have you ever considered where the idea of Easter baskets originated?

Easter as a holiday is the result of many different cultures and religions combined. The history of the Easter basket has a similar lineage. Some of the origins are from ancient pagan customs, some stem from a Judeo Christian background.

Vernal or spring equinox was special time to ancient cultures. They were very dependent on the success of their crops and livestock to live. They celebrated the seasons and prayed to different Gods in the hopes that their fields would be fertile. Spring Equinox is a time when day and night are equal time. This was a signal that the long harsh winter was over and that spring a time of renewal and rebirth was at hand.

Cultures from the Middle East such as the Hebrews, Arabs, Babylonians, and Assyrians had special traditions such as bringing the first seedling of the new crop to the temples to be blessed. This was in the hope that God would be happy and bless their crops that year. One of the most significant connections of Easter to these ancient religions is that the date is based upon astrological signs. Easter occurs on the Sunday after the first full moon following Spring Equinox. This first moon was a sign to farmers to make sure they panted the first seeds of the season.

Easter baskets grew out of the more out of modern traditions and symbology of Christianity. To Christians, Easter represents the resurrection of Christ. Lent is the season that proceeds Easter and lasts for forty six days prior to Easter Sunday. This season of Lent is begun on Fat Tuesday. This is the last time to party before the season of lent. During the Lent season, Christians believe you must give up something and fast until after Easter. The fast can include giving up meat, eggs, and dairy. The custom of having a large Easter supper represents the end of the Lenten fast. In more ancient times, this large feast was brought to the church in large baskets, hence the connection to treats in an Easter baskets today. This basket was blessed by the clergy much like the ancient Hebrews brought their first seedlings to the temple to be blessed.

So what about that Easter grass? This comes from the tradition of Dutch children waiting to deliver eggs on Easter Sunday. They would deposit these eggs in little bird's nests much like the purple, yellow, or green plastic grass nests that can be found in modern Easter Baskets. This Easter as you order a special Easter basket for friends and family, you now know that you are participating in a tradition that been passed down for many thousands of years.

About the Author

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for Easter baskets and gifts. When shopping for flowers and gifts, we recommend you shop only at the best online stores that specialize in weddings, love, romance, gift baskets, flowering plants, roses, rubies, diamonds, and pearls.

Easter Greeting - Boy with Easter Egg Basket Holding Egg $19.99 Easter Greeting - Boy with Easter Egg Basket Holding Egg - Premium Poster

Nino 80-Piece Egg Shaker Assortment with Elephant Basket $149.99 Nino 80-Piece Egg Shaker Assortment with Elephant Basket

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Still Life with Courgettes, Rondini and Egg Basket $24.99 Still Life with Courgettes, Rondini and Egg Basket - Photographic Print

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Bamboo Egg Basket $110.16 These gorgeous baskets are hand-woven from gorgeous willow ensuring a long lasting accent to any room decor. Finished in a beautiful natural tone, these baskets feature classic beauty and exotic style. Set includes: One (1) egg basketColors: Natural Materials: WoodDimensions: 13.5 inches high x 17 inches wide x 11 inches deep

A Yellow Easter Egg in Small Basket with Feathers $24.99 Elisabeth Cölfen A Yellow Easter Egg in Small Basket with Feathers - Photographic Print

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Inkadinkado Easter Egg Basket Rubber Stamp $13.24 This rubber stamp from Inkadinkado features a hardwood base and precisely cut rubber for a crisp, highly-detailed image. This stamp features the Easter Egg Basket design, perfect for a variety of projects.Design: Easter Egg BasketMaterials: Rubber, woodImported

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Still-Life with Basket, Nest, Egg, Red Currants and Ladybird $34.99 Cecil Aldin Still-Life with Basket, Nest, Egg, Red Currants and Ladybird - Giclee Print

The Egg $15.49 The Egg

Egg $10.49 Egg

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Thumper Finds an Egg $8.21 When Thumper discovers a bright blue egg while hopping through the forest, his sister Daisy helps him make a basket for the egg to rest in and together they try to find a home for the little lost egg. Original.

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Alessi Coccodandy Egg Basket for Cooking Eggs Ivory $36 Here's a new Chicken & Egg paradox of sorts. For those who love hard-boiled eggs, the Cocodandy a must! This cradle allows any cook to place four eggs directly into boiling water and time them perfectly. The plastic chicken on top functions as a finial for pulling the eggs out of the water and cradling them to the breakfast table. Of course, if you simply loathe eggs, the Cocodandy can be used for any number of services, including a desk caddy for paper clips and postage stamps. Either way, a smart addition to any home decor. Type: Specialty Tools and Gadgets Color: Beige

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Basket $10 Basket