Celebrate Easter and Ostara by Giving Gifts of Eggs

image credit -photo by MnGyver, taken in
Covent Garden, London, England as part
of an Egg Hunt Celebration featuring
giant-sized Faberge-style eggs.

"Omne vivum ex ovo" - All Life Comes From an Egg. So, Let's Celebrate the Symbolism of Easter Eggs.

Easter falls on April 5th and Ostara falls on March 20th this year, and with it comes the Spring Equinox and the celebration of The Resurrection of Christ. The symbolism of the egg is ancient and has remained through the millennia. The egg is the ultimate symbol of life, as an old Latin proverb is written, "Omne vivum ex ovo," meaning "All life comes from an egg."

Today, the most common use of Easter eggs is within Christianity, where the egg symbolizes the embodiment of Christ, or the tomb of Christ. In the earliest Christian practices and still in today's Orthodox Christian religion, eggs are dyed the color red to symbolize the blood of Christ, as shed on the cross. The egg is not a symbolism of death, however, as Christ was resurrected.

Now, we paint Easter eggs all wonderful, pretty colors and decorate them beautifully. I remember as a child being very excited to start decorating the Easter eggs, and every year I would get a few in my basket from the Easter Bunny. It was great fun. Today, as an adult, I still love decorating Easter eggs. Also, as an adult, I now know just how ancient and important the meaning of the egg is. I love all symbolism, particularly pictorial ones, and the egg is a favorite!

I can't think of a nicer way to celebrate Easter than with giving the gift of eggs to your dear-ones. I've taken quite a bit of time of picking out eggs I think you'll like below. Happy Egg Giving! :)

image credit - photo by David Bone

Origin of Easter and the Easter Egg Tradition
Colored eggs were placed at the site of graves

Every year Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon of the Spring Equinox. The date on which Easter falls may have been adapted by Pagan religions that celebrate holidays according to the coming and going of seasons.

The Spring Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere is the first day of Spring, which correlates with the pagan holiday Ostara, also known as Eastre, Eostre, Oestre. You can see the similarity of these names with the term Easter.

Ostara, in pagan beliefs, was the Goddess of fertility and the renewal of life. She was celebrated and worshiped on the Spring Equinox. As an offering to Ostara, people would leave colored eggs at the site of their loved-ones graves, symbolizing rebirth. Today, pagans and wiccans alike continue to celebrate Ostara, and Christo-pagans celebrate both the christian Easter and Ostara.

image credit - "Faberge Tree" by Mauro Luna taken at an exhibit in the Houston Museum of Natural
Science from the "Faberge: Imperial Jeweler to the Tsars,"

Objet D'Art Vintage Faberge Egg

Click image to see on Amazon

Faberge eggs are highly collectible jeweled eggs that were made at the turn at the 20th century at the House of Faberge in St. Petersburg, Imperial Russia. They were made to give as Easter gifts and were worn on a chain around the neck.

Today, they continue to be highly sought after. Many are on exhibit in various museums, and patrons are delighted by their beauty.

Most Faberge eggs are replicas of the originals (like the one below), as the originals are prized collectibles and very expensive.

The Faberge egg pictured to the left is a gorgeous, available collectible that doubles as a music box, playing "Here Comes the Sun" by George Harrison. Find it here: Electric Green Musical Faberge Egg Box " Here Comes the Sun" Paykoc QZ40058

image credit - photo by Big
Bead Little Bead of a
cloisonne bead

The Art of Cloisonne

Cloisonne is an ancient art of decorating metal dating as far back as early Egypt. The techniques are tedious and labor-some and those who make cloisonne art are highly skilled. Today, most cloisonne comes out of the Far East.

Click image to see on Amazon

The techniques used in cloisonne are complicated, and the designs have become more detailed as different techniques have been developed. Generally, outlined metal sections (or cloisonne ) are added to the base metal, and then, enamel paste is painted on the base metal within the sections. In early days, gems or bits of glass were used to decorate each section. As you can see, from the photo I've selected, that it is an intricate detailed process.

Like the Faberge eggs, Cloisonne pieces are also sought after collectible pieces. Cloisonne pieces range from ring and other jewelry items to plates, vases, trinket boxes, and also, the egg.

.999 Silver Collectible Cloisonne Egg Coin - Intrinsic Art Value with Monetary Value as well

click image to see on Amazon

I think this is a really neat idea to give as a gift!

These are real, uncirculated coins from the Cook Islands.  Each has a face value of $5.00.

We've all heard, "Don't put all your eggs in one basket." These coins are another way to collect assets.

These are getting hard to come by. Only 2,500 were minted.  There are other colors and patterns available too.  Click the egg coin image to see more. 

image credit - photo by Spiros K. showing a
glass factory on Murano Island. -pretty cool!

Murano Glass - Glass Art from the Island of Murano, Italy

Murano glass has been made by skilled glass artisans since the 9th century. While the art-form technique is done elsewhere, true Murano glass comes only from the island of Murano, an Island off of Venice, Italy.

image credit - photo by Philip showing an amazing Murano glass sculpture on display on Murano Island.

Available Museum Quality, Collectible, Murano Easter Eggs:

There's only one of each.  Be share to get them while they last.

Ivory Murano Glass Easter Egg	Emerald Murano Glass Easter Egg	Murano Glass Easter Egg

An Ancient Widow Mite Coin May be a Perfect Unique Gift for Easter or Other Holiday

-article by melaniekaren

One Easter I Gave Everyone an Authentic Widow's Mite Coin

image credit - Widow's Mite
Ancient Roman Bronze Coins by Royce Bair

Years ago on one Easter I gave everyone in my close, immediate family an authentic widow's might coin. We were all gathered around my Aunt Rosemary's dining room table getting ready to sit down for Easter dinner. I had placed a tiny Easter basket at each place setting with a unique gift nestled inside.

Once everyone opened the tiny package and learned what they were holding, It absolutely blew their minds. This unique Easter gift idea was a truly magnificent hit. I had given each person his or her very own widow's mite coin.

Everyone one kept looking at the tiny coin in the palm of their hands. They could hardly believe that they were holding one, and not one person realized these existed to this day. Each person's widow's mite immediately held a sentimental value for that person. Each person became kinda smiley and excited once he or she realized what he or she was holding was an ancient, real coin that Christ himself could have actually held also. I was thrilled to have thought of such a gift and was happy everyone liked their little coin so much.

A Biblical Coin from the Time of Christ

A Prutah Coin, A Lepton

image sources - Wikimedia cc

The two mites in the biblical story of the poor widow refers to two coins. A mite was one of the prutah coins minted under King Alexander Jannaeus, a king of Judea from 103BC to 76BC. The word prutah means "a coin of smaller value."

A lepton, meaning "small" or "thin" was the name of the actual prutah coin denomination. A lepton was the smallest denomination of currency. Therefore, think of it as today's penny or cent.

The common lepton minted under King Alexander Jannaeus is the lepton most offered to collectors today. It has the anchor on one side and a star (or sun) wheel with 8 spokes.

The lepton coin was still in circulation at the time of Christ and is, therefore, one of the "bible coins." In the story of the poor widow, the woman gave her last two leptons to the church.

Painting Titled "The Widow's Mite" by João Zeferino da Costa from 1876

image source - The Widow's Mite - In this beautiful painting we see the widow giving her last two mites to the right. In the center of the painting, we see Christ acknowledging the widow.

image credit - Opfer der armen Witwe depicting the
widow placing her 2 mites in the collection box

Widow and the Two Mites

Lesson of the Widow's Mite

Do you know the story, " The Widow and the Two Mites?" I remember learning about it more than once in Sunday school a long time ago. It was always told to us in a way so that we understood it as a lesson to always carry with us.

The story of the poor widow is found in the New Testament of the Bible. It is found in Mark 12 versus 41 - 44 and also in Luke 21 versus 21 - 24.

The story goes something like this. Jesus and his disciples are at a temple in Jerusalem. Jesus notices an older woman casting her last two coins into the collection box. Jesus calls his disciples over and tells them his observation, the story. Jesus explains that others have also donated to the temple, of whom many were rich. Those with wealth and abundance gave more monetary value to the temple, but the widow gave more, because she gave all she had.

The lesson of the widow's mite teaches that the sacrifices of the poor, which may seem minuscule or insignificant, are most meaningful to God.

click pic to see on AMAZON

Widow's Mites For Sale

Much like our coins today, there were different styles of lepton coins during their circulation. This kind, featuring the sun and anchor is one of the more common varieties.

On one side King Alexander is written in Hebrew, and on the reverse side, there is the sun wheel design with 8 spokes.

Believe it or not, widow mite coins for sale are not difficult to find.  You can easily find authentic coins alone or nestled in jewelry pieces.  In my opinion, the best place to find just the coins is eBay.  Every time I've searched eBay for any coin, I always had a great deal to see and choose from.

The pendant pictured right is currently available on Amazon by TBJE Ancient Coins. It's my top pick I'm sharing with you: Sterling Silver & Bronze Antiqued Widows Mite Coin Pendant

Please note that there are reproductions for sale.  It is not necessary to buy the reproductions!  The authentic real coins can be found for a great price (currently on eBay though and not Amazon.  What Amazon does have are a few really nice jewelry pieces with mites. - I check regularly.)

And of course, here is part of the story taken directly from the Bible:

" ...Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living."

~ taken from Mark12, 43 and 44

Again, eBay is probably the best place to find individual, authentic, widow's mite coins (or leptons). Here are Widow's Mites on eBay

A Few Excellent Amazon Picks:

Jewelry Best Seller Sterling Silver & Bronze Antiqued Widows Mite Coin Pendant	Sterling Silver Antiqued Widows Mite Coin Cross Pendant	Widows Mite Gold-Tone (Brown/Bronze) Pendant with 24" Chain Engraved with Bible Scripture Luke 21:1-4, "I tell you the truth the poor widow gave more than all those rich people. She gave all she had to live on,..." Minted of Hand-Cast Bronze 100-60 BC

Celebrate Spring and the Return of Summer this May Day

-article by melaniekaren

Much of the World Celebrates May 1st as May Day Based Around Ancient Traditions

image credit - "Petal Girls" by Pete Ashton

May Day is a Spring holiday celebrated in the Northern Hemisphere around the world. It is a very ancient Spring time tradition celebrated by many cultures going all the way back to the ancient Romans, Celts. and Germanic peoples of central and northern Europe.

May 1st was the first day of Summer for these folk. It's date landed precisely half way through the year from their first day of Winter, November 1st, also their New Year. Some traditions began the holiday festivities on the eve of May 1st, particularly those who celebrated with the lighting of bonfires.

With the Summer warmth returning in full-swing, people had much to be happy about. The harshness of Winter was gone, and even the days of a potential cold March and April had passed. May 1st marked a joyous day, and it marked one of the rights of passage through the turning wheel of seasons through the year.

Today, May Day is still celebrated around the world. There are different ways in which it is celebrated, however, the theme is all alike. Celebrating with flowers, dancing with intertwining ribbons around a maypole, and the lighting of bonfires are common throughout. It's a big party!

Please note that May 1st is also the date of other May Day holidays of more current times revolving around work, labor, and bank holidays. These are nice holidays, but we will not be covering these holidays in this article, as they are completely different in origin and history.

The Origin of May Day Traditions

image credit - by Roberto Rizzato depicting
Bartolomeo Veneto's
"Flora, the Goddess of Spring"

The first people to celebrate May Day were the pre-Christian Romans, Celts and Germanic peoples of central and northern Europe. May Day festivities centered around Pagan rituals and beliefs.

Romans celebrated "Flora" as May Day after the Roman Goddess of Flowers. Flora was a goddess of fertility, flowers, fruit-bearing vines and trees, and grains. Her appearance is first seen in Ancient Greece, when she was known as "Chloris."

The Germanic people called their May Day "Walpurgis Night," a night celebration of bonfires similar to the nightly Beltane festivals of the Celts. Walpurgis Night was a celebration of Fertility and the upcoming Summer.

For the Celts, it was their festival of Beltane, and celebrated with the lighting of bonfires. Today, Neo-pagans, Wiccans, Christo-pagans continue to celebrate May Day as Beltane, incorporating bonfires, dance, maypoles, and flowers into their festivals.

Traditional Ways to Celebrate May Day Today

- from Europe to the British Isles to the Americas

image credit - "Maypole Dancer" by Michael Zupon

Today, many spring holidays and spring festivals are centered around May Day.

In the British Isles, May Day celebrations most commonly involve traditional May flowers, a Crowning of the May Queen, and dancing around the Maypole. The May Queen wears a long white dress symbolizing purity and a white tiara placed upon her head. Often she is also adorned in white flowers. As May Queen, she leads the May Day celebrations and festivities. Dancing around a maypole is performed by different age groups in the style of Morris Dancing and symbolizes fertility.

In Ireland, most old pagan traditions of lighting bonfires have long gone with the wide-spread increase of Christianity. Today, the Irish celebrate May Day as "Mary's Day." If you see a portrait of Mary with Spring and Summer flowers, this is a depiction of Mary's Day." It should be noted, however that, with the increase in understanding and appreciation of old ways and with a rise in neo-paganism, some folk do celebrate the traditions of Beltane on May Day or May Day's Eve with lighting of bonfires to symbolize the upcoming welcomed longer Summer days.

In France, the Lily of the Valley flower is the symbol of May Day. It is small white bell-shaped flower that grows naturally and in abundance around late April into Early May. Christians say it is a symbol of the tears Mary cried during her son's crucifixion. For others, it is simple a gesture of Springtime and good luck. It is customary for people to give others a Lily of the Valley flower on this day.

In Germany, Finland, and Sweden, May Day is celebrated similarly, although in Germany, the traditions are more elaborate. In Finland and Sweden there are street festivals and bonfires of the old Walpurgis Night tradition. In Germany there are also the bonfires of Walpurgis Night, however, there is also dancing around the Maypole.

As I said, in Germany the festivities are a bit more elaborate. Anytime secret romantic love is involved, things tend to get more elaborate. Perhaps a better word is a sarcastic "complicated." In theory though, it sounds lovely, as it is a time for secret admirers to leave their secret anonymous message for their heart's desire. A man might carry a maypole to the home of the woman he secretly admires, and a women, conversely, might place roses or rice in the shape of a heart outside the home of her secret admirer. Whether or not they tell their secret love's it is a romantic gesture from themselves is completely up to each individual.

In the Americas, May Day is also celebrated.

In Canada, the day is celebrated further into the month and typically only within British Columbia. May 1st is a time that can still be pretty cold in Canada. They wait for more warmth and Spring-like days! The style of celebration is that of Great Britain.

In Hawaii, May Day is traditional known as Lei Day. Yes, this is when we see many beautiful Lei necklaces with all the interwoven flowers the season has to offer. In Hawaii, May Day celebrations focus primarily on the island's culture and history of it's peoples.

image credit - "Maypole" by Konrad Glogowski depicting the maypole
at the Music Garden in Toronto, Canada

The May Day Maypole - What is a Maypole?

The Maypole is a pole that is erected on May Day during many of the May Day Celebrations. The most common custom is to dance around the maypole with ribbons. The dance choreography allows the ribbons to be interwoven as they spiral down the pole. Many maypoles are also beautifully decorated with flowers, while others are painted with vibrant colors.

Maypole symbolism includes fertility, celebration of sacred trees, and they may have been symbols of the world's axis, a connection between two worlds (i.e. Heaven and Earth).

Spring and Summer are the months of mating. That's for sure. You can feel it in the air and animals get kind of wacky and bees pollinate. I know particularly well that "wolf call" are in high numbers during the first warm days of Spring. So yes, the maypole is often a symbol of fertility with young maidens dancing around the maypole. It is a symbol of fertility among people, but it is also one in that people are dancing and hoping that the growing season will be a bountiful harvest come Autumn.

Many maypole's represent sacred trees. The "World Tree" is one of these sacred trees. The maypole is a symbol of the World Tree's reaching upward into the universe, being here with humanity on Earth, and the roots reaching down into the Under World or our ancestor's resting place. Two other sacred trees represented by a maypole are "Thor's Tree," a sacred Ash, and "Yggdrasil," a tree that cradled the whole Universe.

The World's Axis, heard sometimes in Latin as "Axis Mundi," goes back to early Christianity and has "pagan roots." This axis connects all that is above with all that is below. It is the central focal point of the Universe connecting the Heavens and Earth.

I wrote another article that is dedicated to celebrating the World Tree, also known well as the "Tree of Life." titled "Celebrate Spring with the Tree of Life."

Children Performing the Maypole Dance

image credit - "Children Perform the Maypole Dance" by Anguskirk - Today, Maypole dancing is
often performed by lovely little girls dressed in their best whites. It's a celebration of children.

image credit - "May Flowers on the Door Knob" by Alyss

May Day Flower Baskets and Bouquets

It is also customary to make May Day flower baskets and bouquets in many May Day traditions. Of course the flowers making up the baskets and bouquets are all the beautiful indigenous flowers of April and May.

The flower arrangements are quite lovely. In many traditions, the flower baskets and bouquets are left in secret at neighbors' door steps. It's a community day of giving and receiving flowers.

image credit - photo by Susan Reimer of May Day flowers in Annapolis, Md

Learn More About May Day

Mummers, Maypoles and Milkmaids: A Journey Through the English Ritual Year by author Sara Hannant is a loved, well-received book filled with photography, information and humor.

It's in hardcover with 256 pages.  It's surely a book for the coffee table.

Share Your May Day Stories

If your May Day tradition is not listed here, you can share it with us below in the comments. Feel free to share your May Day personal stories and traditions here below in the comments too. I would love to hear all about it, and I am sure others would as well. So, share. :)