A Victorian Easter

When I think of a Victorian Easter I picture the Easter Parade....with all the ladies showing off their Easter bonnets.

The Easter bonnet and new clothes on Easter symbolized the end of the dreary winter and the beginning of the fresh, new spring. At the turn of the century, it was popular for families to stroll to church and home again to show off their "Sunday best." I remember as a young girl looking forward to getting my new outfit and I couldn't wait to wear it on Easter Sunday.  I felt so grown up with my bonnet and gloves and even a little pocketbook.

I also think of Easter egg hunts and Easter egg rolls.

Never heard of an Easter Egg roll?.....

The rules of an Easter Egg Roll are to see who can roll an egg the greatest distance or can make the roll without breaking it, usually down a grassy hillside or slope.

The Religious Side Of Easter

What is Easter?
Easter is the Christian celebration commemorating the resurrection of Christ from the dead, after his crucifixion on Good Friday. One of the most interesting things about Easter is that it is somewhat of a "melting pot" holiday, with traditions that are deeply intertwined with Christian, Jewish and Pagan practices. It is no coincidence that Easter comes at a time of year so close to the Jewish Passover and the Pagan Ostara celebration at the spring equinox.

How is the date of Easter determined?
Since the Council of Nicaea in 325, Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the vernal equinox of March 21. Easter can come as early as March 22 or as late as April 25.

What are the roots of Easter?
Even though it is now considered a Christian holiday, Easter's roots are forever entwined with the Pagan holiday Ostara or Eostre. Eostre was an ancient Anglo-Saxon goddess that, legend has it, owned pet rabbits that laid eggs. In Pagan times an annual spring festival was held in her honor. Many Easter customs of today have come from this and other pre-Christian spring festivals.

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