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Which came first - Easter, the egg or the chocolate ? T he egg has long been a symbol of renewal and rebirth. Though the feast is a moveable one, Easter falls on the first Sunday after the full moon which occurs on or after the Spring Equinox. Lambs and rabbits are born, chickens and birds are hatched and new plant life growth is showing  after the cold dormant winter. Easter is a Christian celebration today, but has been adapted from older traditions. Symbols of rebirth and traditional sacrifice come from the Norsemen's Easyat, Ostara and Ostar and the pagan goddess Eostre, all involving the time of the growing sunshine and new birth. Ancient Egyptians, Persians, Phoenicians and Hindus believed that the world began with an enormous egg, and so the egg as a symbol of new life has been around for thousands/millions of years. The Easter Bunny most likely arose  as a symbol of fertility due to the rapid reproduction of rabbits. But what of the chocolate ? Painted and decorated eg...

Having reached three days before Christmas Day and not yet had the opportunity to sing Christmas Carols with gusto and joy amongst a crowd of equally joyous people, I attended the carol service at my local church last night. I have bashed out some old favourites on the piano myself and sang along, over the last couple of weeks, which only resulted in the dog becoming extremely stressed, clearly thinking there was something drastically wrong with me. My grandchildren are growing up quickly, as childen tend to do, and the three who are still at school avidly avoid such gatherings, at school or anywhere else, if possible.  "Last Christmas I Gave You My Heart" and "All I want For Christmas Is You"  are lyrics that are more likely to be heard than "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks" as we go about our daily shopping, so I was looking forward to singing along with "real" carols at this service. Anticipating that this service which would lif...