Egg hunt
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Egg hunt is a game during which decorated eggs, real hard-boiled ones or artificial, filled with or made of chocolate candies, of various sizes, are hidden in various places for children to find. The game may be both indoors and outdoors. The egg was a symbol of the rebirth of the earth in Pagan celebrations of spring and was adopted by early Christians as a symbol of the rebirth of man at Easter. The egg symbol was likened to the tomb from which Christ arose. [1] Traditionally the game is associated with Easter and Easter eggs (Easter egg hunt), but it has also been popular with spring time birthday parties.[2]
When the hunt is over, prizes may be given out for various achievemenet, for the largest number of eggs collected, for the largest of the smallest egg, for the most blue/red/etc. eggs, consolation prizes, booby prizes, etc.[2]
Real eggs may further be used in egg tapping contests. If eggs filled with confetti left from Mardi Gras (cascarones) are used, then an egg fight may follow.[2]
Eggs are placed with varying degree of concealment, to accommodate children of varying ages. In South German folk traditions it was customary to add extra obstacles to the game by placing them into hard-to reach places among nettles or thorns.[3]
Egg hunts are a subject of the Guinness Book of World Records. For example, Homer, Georgia, United States was listed in 1985 with 80,000 eggs to hunt in a town of 950 people (no longer a record).
[edit] Renaming campaign
Secularists in the United States promote the religion-neutral term spring egg hunt. The corresponding renaming of the traditional annual Easter Egg Hunt events in many places sparked a controversy which prompted Stephen Colbert to run a talk segment "Easter Under Attack" in his satirical show The Colbert report on Comedy Central.[4] A similar Christmas controversy was widely discussed in media in 2007, when religious leaders alleged that a campaign was carried out to replace, e.g., "Merry Christmas" with "Season's Greetings". All these renamings are related to the fear of being criticized for spending public money on events which may be seen as religious by secularists.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Warwickshire County Council: The history of the Easter egg Retrieved on 2008-03-17
- ^ a b c "An April Birthday Party", by Margaret Remington, The Puritan, April-September 1900.
- ^ Venetia Newall (1971) An Egg at Easter: A Folklore Study, p. 323
- ^ "Chocolate Bunny meltdown", San Francisco Chronicle, March 11, 2007
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