Easter Tree~

I have happily discovered another German tradition!

For many years I have assumed the decorated Easter Trees

in the U.S. stores were a marketing gimmick to sell things

for the Easter holiday.  Suprisingly I have learned this is

a tradition we acquired from German immigrants moving

 to the Pensylvania Dutch country during the 18th century.

The Germans had their children decorate little "nests" out

of their hats or bonnets and then hide them in the house 

or garden.  The Easter Bunny would then bring them

decorated eggs if they had been good children. 

As Americans we evolved to the traditional Easter basket.

One idea of where these traditions originated were peasants 

making payments to their Lords;  Another thought was from 

the pagan holiday that worshipped the maiden-goddess of

fertility as a way to welcome in spring.  She was know by

various names such as Eastee, Eastre, Eostre, or Ostara.

Many countries throughout Europe celebrate Easter using

the egg as one of their symbols of the holiday.  In Germany,

as in other countries, the eggs are colorfully decorated.  Folk

art specialist's can look at the way an egg is decorated and 

know which region it comes from.  Since I do not have the

eggs I collected in Prague with me I made do with some 

simple ones on these branches.  In Germany Pussy Willow

branches or Forsythia branches are sold so they can be used

for hanging your eggs on.  I asked my friend Lissy, and 

women from church, if they still did this tradition.  They all

do and hang their children's painted eggs and even their

own from their childhood's on these branches.  They said

their parents also had this painted egg tradition as children.

Some culture's eggs are painted a blood red color symbolizing 

Christ's death and sacrifice and other's are painted green to
recognize the coming of spring and new growth and rebirth.

 These are my cute little duck babies I found on my

trip in the Eifel.  I chuckle when I look at them.  

They are so ruffled and touseled looking.

So cute! 

 I found these funny little birds to place 

on some branches of my Egg Tree.

If I was an Easter bird, this would be me. :-)

Next Easter I am excited to be able to use my decorated

 Czech Eggs I collected to hang on my Easter Tree!