Part 3 Easter Traditions 复活节传统习俗  

Hot Cross Buns

    At the feast of Eostre, the Saxon fertility Goddess, an ox was sacrificed. The ox's horns became a symbol for the feast. They were carved into the ritual bread. Thus originated "hot cross buns". The word "buns" is derived from the Saxon word "boun" which means "sacred ox."

    Later, the symbol of a symmetrical cross was used to decorate the buns; the cross represented the moon, the heavenly body associated with the Goddess, and its four quarters.

Easter Rabbit and Eggs

    The symbols of the Norse Goddess Ostara were the hare and the egg. Both represented fertility. From these, we have inherited the customs and symbols of the Easter egg and Easter rabbit. Dyed eggs also formed part of the rituals of the ancient, pre-Christian Babylonian mystery religions. Eggs "were sacred to many ancient civilizations and formed an integral part of religious ceremonies in Egypt and the Orient. Dyed eggs were hung in Egyptian temples, and the egg was regarded as the emblem of regenerative life proceeding from the mouth of the great Egyptian god. We have talked about this in the last part.

Easter Sunrise Service

    This custom can be traced back to the ancient Pagan custom of welcoming the sun God at the vernal equinox - when daytime is about to exceed the length of the nighttime. It was a time to "celebrate the return of life and reproduction to animal and plant life as well." 

Easter Candles

    These are sometimes lit in churches on the eve of Easter Sunday. Some commentators believe that these can be directly linked to the Pagan customs of lighting bonfires at this time of year to welcome the rebirth/resurrection of the sun God.

    象征生命的蛋、火、水、兔等成了复活节的吉祥物。鸡蛋和兔子在西方是新的生命和兴旺发达的象征。鸡蛋的本色象征太阳，把鸡蛋染成红色则象征生活幸福。在复活节中，父母要特地为孩子们准备制成鸡蛋、兔子形状的巧克力糖。亲友间要互赠彩蛋。

    在莱茵河中游和黑森东部的一些城镇，至今保留着"彩蛋树"这一古老习俗。人们把成百的蛋壳涂上彩画，串成一条链子，在复活节这天挂在松树上，制成彩蛋树，大人孩子围着彩蛋树唱歌、跳舞、庆祝复活节。而阿尔卑斯山的姑娘们则通过赠送红鸡蛋来表达自己的爱情。在复活节这天，姑娘如果向某一小伙子赠送三个红鸡蛋，表示姑娘向小伙子求爱。

    火不仅给人类带来了光明，也使大地获得了新生。作为耶稣再生的象征，复活节的许多活动都与火相关。复活节这一天，人们在教堂前点烛以示圣化，并将圣烛迎进千家万户。这一天，孩子们最快乐的事是把圣火送到各家。他们在教堂前用圣火点燃树枝，然后奔跑着送到各家各户，当中充满着欢快的节日气氛。

    在中世纪，所有的基督徒在复活节日出之时庆祝，因为依据古老的传说，复活节时的太阳会在清晨欢喜地跳跃三次，来荣耀耶稣的复活，那时穿云而出的光芒就有如天使般的欢舞。

    欧洲的民众在复活节的清晨聚集在旷野或山顶观看日出的光辉，在破晓之时鸣炮与响钟，并有乐队与圣咏团以哈利路亚及赞美诗歌来庆祝象征耶稣升起的太阳，至今在奥地利阿尔卑斯山区仍保有这种清晨致敬的习俗。

    斯拉夫民族也保有其古老的复活节习俗，教堂从早到晚都要以短暂的间隔持续敲钟，来提醒信徒这是一年中最伟大的日子之一。

    在罗马尼亚，基督徒在上教堂前，会先在家里大扫除，穿新衣，沐浴，这样做是为了表示一个新的开始。在40天的四旬期之后，各家的桌上都充满了各样美食，并以美美的彩蛋来陪衬，增加节庆的气氛。最高兴的莫过于小孩了，因为他们可以在草丛中寻找礼物和彩蛋！

    罗马尼亚的农民，会穿著传统的服饰，并点燃手中的蜡烛，在午夜时聚集在教堂周围，装严地喊着：“耶稣已从死里复活了！”在每个教堂的周围，不论是山丘或平原，人们手持着蜡烛，并高声唱着赞美诗。

    歌曲欣赏——Enya---May It Be