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mans pricked a hole in each end of the shell and blew out the contents. After decorating
the eggs, they hung them in trees or bushes, wishing for fertility among the household;
large crops, herds of farm animals and many children to be bom.
Games using eggs were also common. These date back to primitive times, according to
historians. The most popular egg game today is “egg rolling”, which has been a tradition
at the White House in Washington, DC since the time of our 4th President, James
Madison. Another traditional game in France is for children to throw an egg up
in the air and catch it repeatedly until one child is left with an unbroken egg.
All of these games are left over from pagan spring festivals but have survived
throughout time and are still traditions practiced around the world today.
The Easter bunny also originated from ancient times. The people of northern Europe
named their goddess of spring, Eostre, which later changed to Easter. Eostre had a sacred \ j
companion which was no ordinary animal, a hare. He was magical and would bring gifts ill/
during the spring festivals, usually eggs. Hares are solitary, unlike rabbits in behavior,
but similar to look at. People confused the two together. This is how the Easter hare be
came the Easter Bunny or rabbit of today.
(Sources: Easter by Aileen Fisher, Easter by Julian Fox)
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Cougar Cry
Student Newspaper of
Wilkes Community College
Wilkesboro, NC 28697
Cougar Cry Staff
Editors: Josh Callaway
Stormie Campbell
Ailsa Greer
Patricia Jeffries
Brandon Marley
Shelley Schreiber
Joshua Stuckey
Nick Tamlin
Advisors: Scott Johnson
Irish Riley
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