In the Spirit of Easter - Chocolate and Bunny hunt
My personal feeling about Eastern has mostly to do with a children's story written by Annie M.G. Smidt, Jip and Janneke two neighbour children spending their days together. They do not visit school yet so they might be about 4-6 years old.
One of those stories is about a chocolate Easter Bunny.
I know I found that special. The bunny was a gift and placed in front of the window while the children went playing outside. Once back in the house that beautiful chocolate bunny melted due to the sun. No angry mom but one who said to the crying upset child: let's get some teaspoons and enjoy it is still chocolate.
I remember during my childhood painted eggs were present, many. They are the sign of new life which is what this celebration, long before Christianity started, is about. It is the old pagan spring festival and not only the day to celebrate new life but also for men to declare their love for a girl/woman. In some countries, these girls are not showered with love but 'treated' with a bucket of water or a cold shower. Personally, it would kill all the love I would feel for a man if he would do that to me, my daughters feel the same. I guess we rather dance around the May 1st tree.
I can not remember an Egg hunt but most likely there was one inside the house mainly because of the weather circumstances. The painted eggs were pieces of art but always coloured the egg white.
I remember how during my childhood my mother was gifted with a huge chocolate Egg by my father (?) it was filled with the finest chocolates and decorated with a ribbon. There was a small one for me. I never saw eggs like that from the moment I started my own family.
Because not all my children like to eat eggs (today they would say:_ I am not stupid Gaston_ - Beauty & the Beast) we've had our Egg Hunts with boiled painted eggs but also chocolate ones. Since there are always children who sneak out in the middle of the night collecting all the eggs and making the others feel miserable I changed the rules.
Each child could pull a card with a riddle on it. Once they solved it they could see if the golden egg was hidden at the spot they had in mind. I can tell you this was Columbus' egg. No fights, brains at work and spending quality time together (plus it took hours and one egg was found one year later so do count your eggs before and after the hunt).
Once I organized an Egg Hunt in Sonsbeek's Park in Arnhem as one of the scout leaders of the 4-year-olds. A super great group of all special children. It was the first and last time I stepped into a Bunny suit and hopped through the fields being chased and hunted by children eager to touch me (so far the hunt for eggs).
I looked by far not as good as this fluffy chocolate thief @yaladeeds and I had counted on
This year it was the the first time we didn't celebrate Easter in the way we used to. It's hard to find chocolate for months and always before Eastern, the prices of eggs go up (30% if not more and the eggs are the smallest I have seen in my entire life).
We searched for chocolate eggs, and Easter treats, in several shops for two weeks in a wide area, without the desired result and decided to buy a bar of chocolate instead. We also skipped the Easter bread which isn't much different from the one served during Christmas (a flatbread filled with raisins, at times with nuts or filled with a mix of crushed almonds with sugar which is the best part since it is a version of the more known marzipan).
If it comes to 'special' food to celebrate certain days the prices always go up. This year we considered it a waste of money and bought fruits, juice and meat instead which was a democratically made choice (each child has a voice). We all refuse to pay more, prices are already rocketing, just because 'Easter' is printed on the label.
This Easter was good for being close, laughing with my children, sharing feelings, and exchanging thoughts. We talked about books, the travels we'll make in the near future and mostly spent this extra free time in the way be liked (I even forgot it's Summertime and figured that out two days later).
Perhaps you saw one of the Easter bunnies in the comment line? It was meant as a nice gesture but it seems as if not many appreciated it. I guess that is Steemit's Easter spirit
With the airplanes cruising the sky above my head it's hard to tell if Spring is on her way. Like the Dutch idiom says: April doet wat hij wil (April does what he likes) winter can return anytime.
For now, all I can do is embrace each sunbeam and open the windows if not too cold.
Yesterday I noticed the lettuce seeds sprouted although it started freezing again meaning there is hope. And to force Spring to show her face I wear my sunglasses and mow the weeds that will always grow while the birds start building their nests.
No (chocolate) egg is needed to set goals, love, clean the house after the long winter or start a new life.
I never set goals on Easter and have no idea if it's a habit at all. To me, it sounds odd after all those achievements set on the first of January which most will not stick to anyway.
Whatever Easter may mean to you I wish you a beautiful start, Springtime (?) the energy to make your dreams come true with or without chocolate to make you feel good afterall this is the year of the dragon which stands for good luck.
There's always a reason to celebrate, being alive is one of them.
Contest hosted by @sahmie
@ibesso can share his stuffed turkey experiences, @pousinha might like to comment on that and for sure the great storytellers @sbamsoneu @elian23khan @nsijoro @triple-a and @dove11 will entertain us with their memories while spreading the Easter spirit. Tag me I love to read you!
Header: Canva
Photo: AI-generated by me
20-3-2024
I am a mobile phone user only
Easter a very popular celebration for christians has always been set at the end of a school session to give children so much time to spend the holiday with their parent . We don't take chocolate here but we prepare a special dish that could be a rice and stew couple with some drink, we don't fail to add a lap of chicken on everyone's dish unless the fun is incomplete. You didn't find chocolate this season, it is sometimes like that, we don't always find what we want at all time and we must adjust to make every blessed day fun filled even if what was we expected is not in it place of manifestation. Goodluck friend.
Chocolate was the only thing left of Eastern next to a bread (certain breakfast plus boiled eggs but we no longer have breadfast).
In my childhood I remember a dinner with rabbit or goose was same for Christmas.
By now the government wants us to stop eating fish, meat, fruits and vegetables are expensive and the rest they blame on the war.
I don't know when in the history the true Easter meaning, celebrating the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, became a party full of eggs and bunnies (my husband, very fond of historic subjects, knows better than me). To avoid misunderstandings, I state I love bunnies too much: they are cute and sweet animals and they really fit as mascotte (I particularly love the cute bunny in the second image!). But I celebrated the true Easter in my Methodist church, having to also play my violin during the morning schedule.
Ps.: I'm not against the purchasing of chocolate eggs. They came to mu church also, but they weren't gluten free, so I must avoid...and prices skyrocket here too...
Easter already existed long before the church, christianity was introduced.
I assume a bunny/hare just like eggs are a sign of fertility, new life? A just born hare looks the same as a 4 week old rabbit (bunny).
In the first believes (germanian not german) eggs most likely stood for new life. The hopping around hare??? Can be he is the same 'stunt' as the fat cookie and milk consuming Santa Claus introduced by CocaCola.
Father Winter/Father Christmas looks different and is part of Norther European beliefs/myths and wears green.
St Nicholas is a bisschop so my guess is the Americans made a mix out of those two since Europeans overthere started something new with influences of the land of their birth.
Till today they lack history unlike what they call "the old world".
I notice this too in each one of the prisoners I wrote and write with over 14 years. They say they are great, love the country (something children in kindegarten already have to say while waving the flag) but they always say they are irish, german, dutch, italian and so on because one of their anchestors were. It all sounds strange to me, no idea why they say that. Lack of identity? If I asked why they feel the need to say that I never receive an answer.
Everything is extremely expensive. I noticed Lidl has glutenfree at times, all the other shops charge 10 times more. Spar overhere seems to import groceries from Spar Italy and more shops seem to do that. It feels as if certain import routes are closed.
May/June 23 I was in Italy the groceries were cheaper, way cheaper than with us. My friend and I filled the trunk (and rest of the car) with groceries fresh fruits and vegetables included. I'm using what I have in my pantry and next hope to be able to fill it again.
I know in Romania pasta and so on is made with corn, all glutenfree since wheat is expensive, in the meanwhile we pay extra because 'glutenfree' is printed on it while it's poor food with them.
I no longer have breakfast just a cup of tea or 4.
A great day to you.🍀❤️
Good night❤️
I also know the Jewish Easter (the Passover), that celebrates the freedom from 4 centuries of egyptian slavery. When God sent Moses to free his brothers Hebrews. The Christian Easter is the mirror of the Jewish Passover because represents the freedom from sins that Jesus' death and resurrection provided.
My ancestor, probably from both lines (mother and father) are likely they have been Jews/Hebrews, even in a far away past. A lot of cultural points in my mother's family ancestors are too explicit. I did many researches and many of them point at a Jewish past.
I know Romania is a challenge for celiac disease, as their staple meals are full of tons of gluten. One of the admins and friend of mine of the Italian community often travels to East European countries, including Romania and he noticed the great difficulty celiacs would face. Sad thing, because Romania is a good country where to live: very cheap and the government doesn't fight against small and medium entrepreneurs as it happens in other south European countries. Lot of Italian entrepreneurs literally run away from Italy in favor of Romania and Albania too (before the new last government, entrepreneur-friendly) because the left parties treated them as the public enemy n.1 to destroy.
It's interesting you made a dive into your family history is it hard to find information about anchestors?
Most Eurooean countries I know (not the ones in the south) dislike Romania. It's corrupt in every way and many leave and I can tell you all those groups we meet on our way while travelling do not make the roads safer. They are gangs pretending they are homeless, arrive at 10 am in bmw or big vans and "sell" the homeless newspaper - while the real homeless allowed to do so are scared/threatened away. The amounts they receive are high, no need to pay taxes but groups terrorize the countries. I heard they seem to fit in in Italy. Can it be the higher educated go to Italy?
I find it interesting to hear it's a good country for entrepeneurs. The last time I visited it was about 6 years ago. We followed the route of Count Drakula, the real one from Hungary to Transylvania (officialy Hungarian too and it should have been given back by now since that was the agreement after the 2nd World War.
Would you like to emigrate?I know as many countries were in lockdown Romania lived on like always even had festivals and nobody dropped dead.🤔
Perhaps it's a good place to be.
In Italy it's the same of Netherlands, because it looks like the educated Romanians are those who stay at their homes in Romania. A lot of the ones who escaped to Italy, probably emigrated because they had heard in Italy all crime is permitted (when in the government there are the left parties, such as PD, which follows a garbage philosophy, it's really this way: people who comes from East Europe and Africa can commit whatever crime, murder, theft and the day after, a judge that follows the PD philosophy frees them from prison as nothing happened). Then, half of Romanians flied to Spain and possibly it's the same as Italy and Netherlands. When I was a girl, one of my ex-boyfriend was Romanian and after only 3 weeks of relationship I had to ask help to the pastors of my church (he was a migrant in their city) cause his insane jealousy. Obviously, not all Romanians are like so, but I'm afraid the good guys who emigrated aren't the majority. In any way, Romanian tax laws favour entrepreneurs and industries.
Ps.: I forgot to reply about the ancestors researches. In the case of my father's line, not owning infos cause a lot of mysteries, I proceeded to a DNA test, while in the case of my mother's line, she knew a lot about her ancestors and the rest I found into online registry offices
Upvoted. Thank You for sending some of your rewards to @null. It will make Steem stronger.
https://x.com/wakeup_kitty/status/1775796603669893476?s=20
What beautiful memories you've shared, Kitty, and what a liberation in expressing these traditions that seem so at risk in an era too often inclined to forget, leaving a void of meaning for the new generations. Your narration touches deeply, showing such a beautiful way to keep celebrations alive, despite the challenges that changes bring. It's inspiring to see how you've enriched moments that exude those connotations of rebirth and resurgence which are the very essence of Easter. The way you've adapted the celebrations, emphasizing the value of family time, creative thinking, and unity rather than mere material consumption, is a pleasure to read. And what did you do today?
Thank you come here 😘🤗
Today as in 11 hours ago or today the day I read this?
I read, mainly upvoted comments, plus I'm doing the usual writing, cleaning and mowing starred agsin. Always goid 500m2 mowing with a 15 cm max grasstrimmer. It's a daily task frim now on...just like last year I will skip 1/3 and let nature sew, grow and do what feels bgood to her. It saves electricity, time, pain in my shoulders and back and I help the animal life.
😁🍀❤️
Hello Kitty! I'm truly happy to hear that you're dedicating this beautiful spring day to your garden, a magical place where gnomes and fairies not only beautify the space but also inspire your stories full of passion, intrigue, and surprising discoveries. It's wonderful how you've decided to let a third of your garden grow freely, not only for the benefit of the animals that inhabit it but also to give yourself a break, saving energy and relieving shoulder and back pain. I hope this "new toy" of yours, as you call it, brings you relief and joy in keeping your green space so perfectly in tune with nature. Now, I'll carve out 40 minutes to write and publish my new text before dealing with other tasks. I wish you a day full of inspiration and beauty in your piece of paradise. Bye, Kitty!🤗🌻❤️
It's not my new toy but old and all left because the mower was set at fire a few weeks ago.
So far I did nithing except commenting and by now I feel as grumpy as that angry gnome refusing to do the gardenjob on my behalf I mean what's the use of gnomes if they suffer from sloth, refuse to take care of nature and home?
Since you no longer need the strings you can give me your rope you don't need it plus I don't want them to strike.
Perhaps I should take some elves or trolls?
Bye dear man the moon thanks for dropping a sunflower!
💕🍀🤗
#comment
Hey Kitty! It seems your garden has turned into a real natural soap opera, with lazy gnomes and rebellious equipment. Perhaps it's time to hire some elves and trolls for a plot twist? Remember, every sunflower starts from a tiny seed. Keep it up, green witch! 🌻🍀
The sunflowers might grow next door if not wheat. I didn't came to gardening, way too busy plus I had to write something like promissed, cut in a toe, bake cakes and dinner was late.
I have to be more careful with google translator, green witch I didn't write it, and never thought about it. I wrote green thumb. A typically Italian expression to define a person capable of making plants grow🤗
Wow!! If you hadn’t mentioned it, I didn’t know they were other activities that was celebrated on Easter Day.
Secondly, who brought such a crazy idea of pouring ur girlfriend a bucket of water in order to express your love…. That’s terrible!! I am with you and your daughter on this one!!😊😊
I love the creative games you set up for your kids on Easter Day, I won’t mind getting a blue print of the games when I start to have my own kids.
This chocolate eggs, u talked about, how does it look like?? Is it the egg shells that are painted with chocolate colors or d egg itself.. over hear we just cook rice, take drinks and celebrate with people around