| It's hard to imagine Easter without
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| | early farmers, the phase of the moon was
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| Easter baskets. Traditionally, these are
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| | always significant in determining when to
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| filled with candy treats such as
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| | plant seeds.
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| chocolates and jelly beans, usually in
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| | The tradition of Easter gift baskets is
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| the shape of an egg. There may also be
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| | really most closely connected to Western
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| hollow plastic eggs with coins or other
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| | Christianity, however. In the Roman
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| treats inside. But did you ever wonder
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| | Catholic Church, Easter is only part of
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| where the whole idea of baskets on Easter
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| | an entire season of rituals and
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| came from in the first place?
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| | observances that begin forty-six days
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| Like the Easter holiday itself, the
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| | prior to Easter itself. Many who have
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| basket is the result of the confluence of
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| | experienced the revelry of Mardi Gras or
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| several traditions from different
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| | Carnivale don't realize that the "Fat
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| cultures. Some of these stem from the
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| | Tuesday" celebration represents a last
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| Judeo-Christian tradition; others date
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| | chance to party before entering that
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| back to pagan customs.
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| | period called Lent - when the devout are
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| In ancient Europe, the vernal or spring
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| | expected to fast and give up meat, eggs
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| equinox was a significant time. In the
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| | and dairy. Lent ends on Easter, hence the
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| original home of the Indo-Aryan peoples -
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| | tradition of a large, sumptuous family
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| ancestors of most of the ethnic and
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| | meal. At one time, it was a tradition for
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| linguistic groups of Europe as well as
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| | Roman Catholic families to carry the food
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| Armenia, Kurdistan, Iran, Afghanistan and
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| | for Easter dinner to Mass in a basket,
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| India - winters were long and bitter.
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| | where it could be blessed by the priest -
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| Spring was considered a time of renewal
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| | harking back to the ancient tradition of
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| and rebirth.
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| | bringing first crops and seedlings to the
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| Among Semitic-speaking peoples of the
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| | temple.
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| ancient Middle East - who include the
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| | German immigrants to the U.S. contributed
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| Hebrews, Arabs, Babylonians, Assyrians
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| | their own customs. "Pennsylvania Dutch"
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| and others - it was a tradition to bring
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| | children eagerly awaited the Osterhase to
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| the first seedlings of the growing season
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| | deliver eggs on Easter Sunday, which he
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| to the temples in order to insure a
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| | would deposit on his "rabbit's nest" -
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| successful harvest. This connection to
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| | hence the tradition of lining Easter gift
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| agriculture is also reflected in the
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| | baskets with grass (or more commonly
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| holiday's relationship to the cycles of
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| | today, artificial decorative grass).
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| the moon; it is always held on the Sunday
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| | Although considered a religious holiday,
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| (day of Sol Invictus, or the
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| | Easter is really a universal expression
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| "Unconquerable Sun") following the first
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| | of renewal and new beginnings.
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| full moon after the spring equinox. To
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