Trina Machacek
Not to generalize, because generally I find generalizing is just too – well general. But! Yes, a generalized everyone’s got one “but.”
Generally, everyone has a season of the year they wait for with all the anticipation of that first cool lick of a cherry popsicle on the back lawn on a July afternoon. Some will look at winter as the best time because of the skiing or snowboarding.
Fall falls into many views due to the cool days, beauty of the changing seasons and hunting of course. Summer belongs to sun worshipers. The hotter the better some believe. Me? Spring is my season.
The new of everything, the promise of what is to come and the reward of living through winter. Yes, that is spring. That is me. Spring also brings Easter. Talk about hope and promise. I would be one of the first to beat the drum in favor of all things Christian and Easter. Here, though, let me talk about the eggs of Easter.
I admit it. I am a multi-sided celebrator. I know that of course most holidays have a commercial side. Valentine’s Day comes to mind! Easter too has THAT side. I mean we all know bunnies do not lay eggs.
Pretty little multi-colored eggs made of chocolate and marshmallows and filled with peanut butter, malt and coconut. I don’t fall into the “made-up” part of holidays because of the commercial side, but rather for the fun of that side.
I have found that if you bring fun into life, the chances of finding peace and spreading that peace increases. How unique is the time that you can bring up the Lord and all his glory when you are celebrating him during Easter. Or Christmas.
Such another “old, old” story. Wink. Wink. But again, we were talking eggs. For those who eat eggs, you know the expense of them in today’s world. Who, in their wildest dreams would think a dozen eggs would ever be near 10 bucks a dozen!
They will certainly come down. One of the funny and timely things I have seen on social media about eggs is this. A picture is seen of what looks like shelves full of eggs that are being advertised for $1.49 per dozen.
The line under says the picture taker has found the nirvana of egg sales. On closer inspection the eggs are Easter eggs of marshmallow or even plastic eggs set out for sale in a dollar store. Marketing does have a way of being a part of life in strange ways.
Looking into how in the world eggs and Easter became a couple, I found this little tidbit offered by Google; eggs represent new life and rebirth, and it's thought that this ancient custom became a part of Easter celebrations.
In the medieval period, eating eggs was forbidden during Lent (the 40 days before Easter) so on Easter Sunday, “breaking” into an egg was a real treat! That and an innumerable number of other reasons of how and why eggs and Easter became strange bedfellows.
Suffice to say looking into eggs and easter will send you down the proverbial “rabbit hole.” As far as the bunny part? Oh, my goodness. This too will send you hopping down the bunny trail just to fall down the rabbit hole.
In short, (yes, Trina please be brief), in following the story of the rabbit, or hare in German stories, it was the hare that, like Santa, made a list of good children and iffy ones. Bringing colored eggs and candy to the good little “chillens” on Easter.
Our beliefs are brought to us from stories. Some stories of what we celebrate are so special and full of hope, as in Bible stories, that to believe in them is more believable than it would be to not believe in them. Now there’s a circle to follow.
The God-Easter celebration with prayer, hope, resurrection and eggs, candy and honey baked ham all come together in an amazing way. Bringing families and friends together. Like cake at birthdays. Wait. What? Cake?
Whoa there Machacek. Talk about whiplash! Okay, so why do we have cake on our birthday? Well since you asked, the Greeks needed something to offer up to Artemis, goddess of the moon, as a tribute on their birthdays.
The Greeks set to baking moon-shaped cakes and decorating them with lit candles, so they shone like the moon. That was one bright idea! Something special. Ah, thus birthday cake.
I have an April birthday friend, Miss Dana.
To her and all those celebrating a birthday and those who love the hope of Easter I say, “EAT THE CAKE.” And enjoy all the prayers and eggs of Easter.
Trina Machacek lives in Diamond Valley north of Eureka. Email itybytrina@yahoo.com.