Long Ago Stories

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21035, 10 February 1940, Page 14 (Supplement)

Long Ago Stories

THE EASTER EGG AGO the New Year was always celebrated in the spring because everything was re-born at this time, and the earth was fresh and young again. It was said that the moon shone blue in spring, on the first day of the week of the New Year, that is to say, on the Sunday dedicated to the goddess Eostre, the sun danced. In their joy the people made little round New Year cakes which they ate together when they danced in the sunshine. To the children they gave eggs painted beautiful colours, and sometimes having gold stars on them, and sometimes silver moons. In those days the children knew the meaning of those eggs. You see, they looked upon them as the symbol of the Universe, which had been created by one Great Divinity. So they carried the eggs in their hands to remind themselves that the beautiful world was like the egg-beginning of life. There was something else, too. each child was at the beginning of life and would grow up into a man or woman and do its duty well for the earth. So, carrying their eggs, they went out to dance in honour of the New Year, and the goddess Eostre, and this custom continued for hundreds of years. Then people discovered that there was no Eostre, because Christianity came into the world, and taught them the truth. Bishop’s Advice But when spring came, people thought of the lovely painted eggs, and little round cakes, and they were sad, especially the children, who asked boldly for their eggs. Then a good bishop told the people to go on eating their little round cakes, but he advised them to place a cross upon them by which to remember they were Christians. So it was that the Eostre cakes became Hot Cross Buns. He also told the people to give their children pretty painted eggs, because the egg was still the emblem of the Universe, and to remind the children that they would grow from their little humble state to good and great men and women. So everybody rejoiced again, and this happy time of the year was called Easter, though people soon forgot the goddess who never had existed. Children still love hot cross buns, and painted eggs, and perhaps some of them will remember now that they will change into great powers.