Stephanie Bromser
Philatelic Development Officer, APF
The branches are consecrated on Palm Sunday and kept by the believers under the eaves in their home to protect the house from lightning and was also cure certain Left Figure 9: 2018 Hungarian non-denom- illnesses. The egg itself, one of inational definitive peel and stick stamp the oldest types shows some Easter traditions of food traditionAbove Figure 10: 2019 Poland stamp ally eaten at Easshowing decorated easter eggs ter, is an archaic symbol of rebirth and life. An old folk custom connected with Easter Monday is dousing girls with water (today spraying with perfume) and in return giving painted eggs as a gift. The basis of this is the belief in water’s power of purification and to bring fertility. The egg together with the bird that hatches from it symbolises the rebirth of Christ. The Easter lamb is the prefiguration of the sacrifice of the Redeemer. The Israelites of the Old Testament were instructed by God to sacrifice a one-year-old lamb and wipe its blood on the doorpost meat and preparing ‘paçoca’, a Brazilian candy. This to avoid the wrath of God. The Easter lamb, as a is shown in figure 7. symbol, can both be connected to the fact that lambs Germany has many Easter traditions. Easter Suncome into the world in spring as well as to the reliday is known as ‘Family Day’. Lots of sweet treats gious tenet that Jesus Christ died on the cross to save are eaten, including a cake shaped like a lamb, and humanity as a sacrificed lamb. For this reason, he is eggs and cookies are hidden in the garden. Many called the Lamb of God to this day. Germans also have an ‘Easter Fire’ where they burn Norway celebrates Easter in a very unusual their Christmas tree to show that winter is over and way: by reading and watching stories about crime spring is coming. It is also popular in Germany to (påskekrims). This “Easter crime” tradition is unique have an egg tree as stylised on the postcard in figure to Norwegians, as no other country around the world 8. Real eggs are painted and then hung from branches celebrates the sacred holiday by obsessing over mysof a tree or in a vase inside the house. Some people teries, murders, and violence. Perhaps it’s because the go to huge efforts to cover an entire tree in their garholiday days off make the perfect excuse to sit down den with these delicate egg ornaments. with a good book while the snowy winter continues The Hungarian 2018 definitive stamp shown in outside, but regardless of the reason, you’ll see more figure 9 has symbols associated with the celebration crime novels displayed in bookshop windows than of Easter, such as a branch of pussy willow, a chick, chocolate bunnies and Easter scenes if you visit Noreggs and brushes used for egg painting. The willow way around Easter time. branch represents the palm branches waved by the During the Middle Ages, people began decoratcrowd welcoming Jesus on his entry into Jerusalem. ing eggs and eating them as a treat following mass Stamp News - 53
