IfnI told you that today’s beginning-of-spring holiday always falls onnEaster Monday, you might think that it had happened a month ago. ButnI’m talking about Eastern Christian Easter.
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nYounmight also suspect that a holiday celebrated on Easter Monday wouldnonly be celebrated by Christians. But again, you’d be wrong.nEgyptians of every religion celebrate “Smell the Spring Day.”
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nThenholiday started with ancient Egyptians. They offered salted fish,nlettuce, and onions to their gods and goddesses in celebration of thenarrival of spring. When Christianity swept through Egypt, in the 200snand 300s, the holiday became attached to Easter. Later, of course,nIslam took over, but the springtime holiday remainednlinked to the Eastern Christian calendar. n
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nThentraditional foods eaten on this holiday haven’t changed much from thenancient fare: salted fish, scallions or green onions, and lettuce.nTwo additions are Lupini beans and colored hard-boiled eggs.
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nDid you know…?
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nDecoratednostrich eggs have also been found in Ancient Egyptian tombs from 5nthousand years ago—along with gold or silver copies of decoratedneggs.
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nInguess it’s safe to say that decorated eggs AREN’T necessarily “Easterneggs”!
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nPlannAhead…
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nChecknout my Pinterest boards of Maynholidays, historicalnevents in May,nand Maynbirthdays.
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nAlsonon this date:
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nHidirellez Festival in Turkey
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nAnniversarynof the world’s first postage stamp
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