Hunting the Easter Bunny Eggs out in the nature is a family tradition I can remember since I was big enough to sit in my father’s rucksack. Every year the feeling of anticipation and excitement takes me down the memory lane. You may say I’m a bit childish, but I’m just fine with that and it’s important to get the right spirit – and of course: you have to love being outdoors too. Yet another thing is that Easter first of all brings the feeling of spring: another great example of the change in the significant four seasons in Norway.
This year we found a nice, quiet spot in the neighbourhood (just 20 min walk) – a natural pearl of a river surrounded by a little forest (click all pics to bigify and enjoy):
Still some snow, but for sure you can smell spring in the fresh, crispy air.
I went a bit ahead, to see if a can find some bunny footstep. Yea, it’s a family tradition – my father did so when we where young – so now it’s my turn – get the idea? :lol: . Walking along the river with increasing streams (next pic to the left), I found this beautiful fall (right pic):
Beside the waterfall, I found a perfect place to sit and make bonfire:
Then I told them I’ve seen foot prints in the snow and the hunt begins. The Easter Bunny knows exactly where to lay the eggs:
It’s easy to find if you follow the footprint and of course much more fun when you have a whole forest to hunt in. Every one helps to look and after a while, all of us has gotten the trophy:
The Easter Eggs hunting crew by the waterfall.
I always want us to learn something from my posts, so I’ve been digging on the net about this phenomena and stumble upon this from SearchWarp:
The Bunny:
The symbol of the rabbit is actually a Pagan symbol, for the ancient Pagan celebration of Eastre. The Goddess, Eastre, was worshiped by Anglo-Saxons, and was known by her unique symbol, of the rabbit – the symbol of fertility and rebirth. The Germans were actually the first country to recognize the rabbit as an Easter symbol, and spread Bunny Cheer throughout the world, including America. The Christians didn’t recognize the Bunny as the Symbol of Easter for a long period after Easter was celebrated.
The Eggs:
The Easter Eggs, like the Easter Bunny, predates the Christian Holiday of Easter. The exchange of eggs during the New Spring Celebration was an ancient tradition, which was practiced long before Christians celebrated Easter. Dating back in ancient times, the exchange of eggs was practiced through various cultures, as a symbol of rebirth. Noble families would wrap the eggs in gold leaf, and the peasants would boil and colour the eggs with flowers and leaves, and offer them as gifts.
The Hunt:
That would be the Germans, as far back as the early 1500s, recognized the Rabbit as a symbol of Easter, And during the 1800’s, they celebrated the eating of edible Easter Bunnies. The Germans were masters in culinary arts, especially with chocolate and delicious sweets, the first edible bunnies were made from pastry and sugar.
Well, enough history and back to our adventures: Now it was time for our picnic and the tradition of frying sausages on sticks:
It’s a minute to learn, but a lifetime to master ;-)
As my regular readers know, I love being out in the nature and are fairly good equipped. Here you see the fry result and the accessories:
Sami knife, wooden cup (made by my son!), the egg and the fried sausage on lompe (potato cake) with ketchup and muster on my sophisticated stick.
So now I hope you understand the excitement in my Easter anticipation and why it’s so important to me to hold on to this childish, family tradition of believing it is the Easter Bunny who laid the eggs. Also I hope you see why this should be an outdoor activity: You have to find the eggs in the Bunny’s natural surrounding of course! And tell me; What can be more recreational than sitting around a bonfire, smell that spring is in the air, listen to the sound of birds and waterfalls?
That’s what I call quality time!
Happy Easter to all – and if you want some more details of this family tradition, you’re welcome to read my posts from previous years – the same procedure as every year:
2007: Bonfire at the Easter Egg Hunt
2008: Spring equinox and Easter egg hunt
2008: Hunting Easter Bunny Eggs in snow
How wonderful! I am making roasted lamb and potatoes with asparagus for our Easter Dinner! But your’s looks so much better!
That looks like a great tradition. Are these your boys?
RennyBA
It is – you should try!
No, these are my bonus children (so my wife’s) and on of their friend. My two sons and my daughter – who all are out of the nest – is to be seen in the post here.
What a good day you had. Wish you all the best!
RennyBA
Thanks for the visit and good wishes. Always great to welcome new readers and thanks for the add at Flickr!
Cool !
Are those your boys?
Great you were able to keep up this family tradition.
Looks really like a fun activity.
Such a great family tradition. And your cup is ultra cool!!!
Such a grand tradition! Those eggs are huge! A blessed Spring to you and yours. Thx for sharing.
We used to do egg hunts and a bbq too when the children were young.
What a beautiful spot for the picnic and hunt! Is lompe the same as our lefse? It looks the same.
RennyBA
It pretty much the same, made of potatoes and flour. However in Lefse, you also add milk or cream and its more used for sweet treats. On Wikipeida: Lefse and Lompe.
Lovely waterfall you have there. And of course such a nice time you had together! Mother nature is the very best. Fun Easter hunting.
We used to have Easter egg hunt indoors when I was a kid. With small paper notes with some written clue’s of where the egg were hidden.
Fint oppslag med mange fine bilder. Takk for turen.
What a nice time you had yesterday! Easy to understand why Even likes to go with you.
RennyBA
Glad you approve Ada – Even is always a nice companion.
Looks like fun!
Happy Easter!
We used to do something similar when my boys were small. I love these family traditions. :)
In France there is a different tradition, and one that dates from Christian times. Church bells fall silent from Good Friday until Easter Sunday. Tradition has it that the bells fly off to see the Pope on Good Friday, and return full of chocolate and eggs.
Thanks for introducing us to the lovely tradition and teaching us all about being outside even in the snow. I know I complained a bit about the ice on the way down to that spot hehehe, but the view and the experience were worth the ‘trip’ :-)
Hi Renny – Glad you had so much fun Renny.. engaging in childish fun is healthy ;) Nice picnic spot there
What a wonderful tradition! I love your eggs! :)
It’s always good to be outside and enjoy the weather!
Something completely different, I just saw this one:
High-speed…… in Norway
BTW: Hubby didn’t do so well today at the driving range, he only did hit the ball about 230-240 meters (with ordinary golf balls), but oh well, considering he has a pain in his shoulder, that’s quite good ;-)
RennyBA
Huushhhh: Don’t tell Diane!! :lol:
Btw: Stick to indoors golf instead – start with a shoulder massage ;-)
What a great tradition you have in your Family.
It seems to be more snow than normal this time of year and the river and waterfall looks really impressive.
btw. See you at L&S later this week?
What a lovely day you’ve had, Renny. Our Easter Bunny brings the eggs inside, especially this year as it was too wet to do anything outside, unless you wanted to drown!
Happy Easter to you and Diane.
What a fun day. I also love how you used the word bigify too. Very well done.
Thanks for sharing your fun day. Big hug to you and Diane. :)
Great post…and I was so excited to learn of this tradition…what fun!
Glad you had a good Easter.
Have a great week
Love, jess
Hey thank you so much for sharing the tradition….now I want, I want, I wanna go on a tradition like this with you Renny :D
Nice to know that easter time join the family,starting a tradition.
I love this game, Renny, And I love your wood cup more than Easter Bunny Eggs!! Did you make it yourself?
Thanks for sharing your Easter with us, Renny. I’ve read your Easter post every year and it never disappoints. :-)
Happy Spring, enjoy!
Love and hugs,
Diane
Ah, det ser morsomt ut :-).
I have never done an egg hunt. This seems fun, I’ll plan something like this for my kids next year. :)
It’s only in Norway that you hunt for eggs in the snow! :)
well, by now i regard it as a tradition to see a post about your yearly egg hunt. it always looks like such a fun time. and i really love that wooden cup of yours too. what a treasure that is:)
I love your thorough explanation of the pagan holiday of easter and how it has nothing to do with religion really, a celebration of springtime. At least thats how it is for us.
And I see you have dressed properly for the weather!
Happy Spring, RennyBA!
I look like a zombie.
Thanks for the lovely post.
I looked back at the other Easter posts you had.
That dough for the sticks is called tea biscuit dough in north America
The idea of you in your dad’s back back is rather funny and cute.Well you make easter look fun and more then just chocolate eggs.
That’s a beautiful place for an Easter Egg Hunt. It’s wonderful how you have kept this fun tradition in your family. It’s a great bonding time.
Those Easter Eggs are lovely! I like that nice wooden cup with your name on it.
Thanks for sharing these great photos and interesting information behind the Easter Egg Hunt.
Thanks for the wonderful posts also about the trivia, You all looked like you’ve had lots of fun and you should continue this tradition and past it on to the next generations :) I’ve always wondered why it was such a big thing here in Germany with all this Easter egg hunt, bunny and chocolates! Well it all started here.. in my country eggs and bunnies aren’t really symbols of Easter, I encountered it all first here..
Hello Renny! Happy Easter to you! My site is currently down since I am making some tweaks as well as working a new template for you that is compatible to 2.7. Plus the real world is making me busy lately. TC!
P.S.
Do you like a rolling header image in which every refresh it changes images of different seasons of Norway?
Hey Renny,
I have read a few of Easter posts, but this one is one of the best: I guarantee you! :D
I found your easter egg hunt so cute! I participated in an egg hunt when I was a teenager (I was spending some time over at a friend’s house, and her parents were Christian so they promoted this hunts to kids, and I was invited) – it was nice.
I love the cup your son made you: he is talented!! :D
Your kids are big! And I think you should never lose this tradition: never!!!
Thanks for sharing this marvellous family moment, Renny :D!
Cheers
I hope it all became you well – it certainly looks like it ought to.
Hello Renny,
Great family tradition you have there Renny! The eggs are huge hah!
Anyway, have a great week!
I use to hunt eggs as a kid in France too. Although not in the snow! :lol:
The spot you picked looks like Canada, beautiful!
Easter is a Christian religious holiday in which we Christians commemorate the Resurrection of Jesus. So how did the Easter Bunny, eggs, and candy become associated with Easter?