Holidays during April 22-25.04 Ester

Easter 22-25.04
by: Magdalena Videnova and Denica Valentinova -7a

History of feast

• It is not known when it first started to paint eggs. There are historical and archeological data that the eggs are dyed and donated in ancient Egypt, Persia, Rome, Chinaand Greece. The rituals associated with them, symbolizing the birth of life. The Jews had a custom, when they go to visit someone to donate a gift to the host. If the guest were very poor, he donated an egg.

• According to Christian tradition, when Mary Magdalene went to Rome to meet with the Roman emperor, following this custom, she gave him an egg, which was dyed red, symbolizing the blood of Christ. Since then they entered the custom of Christians to give away painted red eggs at Easter. Gradually they began to use other colors.

Bulgarian customs

In Bulgaria, the tradition is to dye the eggs on Maundy Thursday or Holy Saturday, and their number depends on family members. The first is always stained red by the oldest woman. While still warm and freshly painted, she painted sign of the cross on the foreheads of children's health. After this ritual painting is borne by young women in the house.

Easter Bunny

Rabbit traditionally associated with fertility and abundance, and in ancient rituals and beliefs - and the moon and its cycles. There is a legend that the Easter hare was once a large beautiful bird, belonging to a goddess. Once she turned her into a hare, and since he is still a bird at heart, continues to make nests and filled them with eggs.