WHY EGGS FOR EASTER?

Because new life emerges from an egg when the chick hatches out, eggs have long been used as a symbol for the start of new life.  And Christians further view it as a symbol of the Resurrection - as it lays dormant, it contains a new life sealed within it, just as Christ's body was resurrected to new life from the sealed tomb.

Another reason that eggs are given as gifts at Easter comes from an ancient Eastern Orthodox tradition:  after the Ascension of Jesus, Mary Magdalene went to the Emperor of Rome and greeted him with the words, "Christ has risen," whereupon he pointed to an egg on his table and stated, "Christ has no more risen than that egg is red." After making this statement it is said the egg immediately turned blood red.  To this day, after our Easter - or Pascha - service, we Orthodox Christians receive hard-boiled eggs that have been dyed red.  We crack them against each other's as we proclaim, "Christ is Risen!"

"Pysanky" are Ukrainian Easter eggs that have been decorated using a wax-resist method with dyes - the symbolic folk designs are "written on" the eggs with beeswax by using a stylus (kystka).  This method is used in many eastern European countries, not just the Ukraine.  Many women like to make Pysanky during Lent (or Holy Week) to be given away at Easter.  Traditionally, they were made at night, when the children were asleep.

PICTURE BOOKS:
Here are some great books you won't want to miss about Pysanky Eggs...and at the end of this post, I'll share some links, so you and your children can make your own.  I think it's a great Lenten activity - it teaches patience and you'll have some beautiful eggs for your basket or to give as gifts!

RECHENKA'S EGGS by Patricia Polacco. An old woman named Babushka always wins first prize in the Easter festival for her exquisitely painted Ukrainian eggs. When she finds a wounded goose outside her house, Babushka takes her in, cares for her until she is strong again, and names her Rechenka. The goose lays an egg each morning for the old woman, but as she begins to heal, she flies around, knocking over Babushka's jars of colored paints and breaking all her Easter eggs. Babushka is miserable, until Rechenka miraculously lays brilliantly colored eggs; the old woman wins first prize once more... Intricate designs and opulent colors shade every page, right down to the onion-shaped domes and peasants' festival garments. -Publisher's Weekly (Ages 4-8)

THE MAGIC BABUSHKA by Phyllis Limbacher Tildes. Nadia longs to make the intricately decorated eggs called Pysanky but the fine detail work is too much for her weak eyes. An encounter with the magical butterfly woman, Baba Babochka, results in the young woman being given a magical kerchief, or babushka, with the warning that she reveal her gift to no one. With it, she is able to transform plain white eggs into elaborately decorated ones that gain the attention of the Tsarina, and she is summoned to the palace to produce Pysanky on demand. Once again, Baba Babochka comes to the rescue, and Nadia is finally able to make beautiful eggs on her own. The full-page watercolor-and-gouache illustrations suggest the colors and designs of pysanky in the bright red, blue, and orange the artist uses in her illustrations and in the detailed border designs. -Library School Journal. (grades 1-4)

NINA'S TREASURES by Stefan Czernecki, illustrated by Timothy Rhodes. A hen named Nina provides eggs for "a little grandmother" named Katerina, who trades the eggs and flowers from her garden for their daily needs. An unusually severe winter finds the pair virtually without food, and Katerina feeds Nina "her precious flower seeds for the spring planting." With the advent of spring, their plight is relieved when Nina--full of flower seeds--lays some spectacularly beautiful eggs. Katerina trades them to replenish her cupboards, and the old woman and Nina are happy and comfortable "the rest of their days." Recalling the resourceful hen, the village grandmothers decorate eggs each spring. -Publisher's Weekly.   (Ages 4-8.)

THE BIRDS' GIFT, A UKRANIAN EASTER STORY, retold by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by Katya Krenina. This folktale describes the origin of pysanky, the process of decorating Easter eggs with intricate, colorful patterns. Katrusya and her grandfather are walking in freshly fallen snow when they discover a flock of tiny golden birds that has been overcome by the sudden cold. They rescue as many as possible from the drifts and stuff them inside their coats, then hurry back to the village for assistance. Soon everyone rushes out to help, and the priest opens the church to shelter the animals and preaches to his congregation that with every chirp the birds worship God with perfect faith. Shortly before spring arrives, the feathered creatures clamor to be released, saddening the villagers, who have grown to love them. Easter comes, and Katrusya and the other children find gorgeous, brilliantly colored eggs in the grass. When the people wonder at their source, the priest points to the golden birds, now perched above, and explains that these eggs are their Easter gifts. As each one is different and precious, he says, so is every living creature in God's eyes. -School Library Journal. (Ages 4-8)


I KNOW YOU'LL ENJOY THIS YOUTUBE VIDEO!

MAKE YOUR OWN PYSANKY EGGS:
Make paper Pysanky Egg decorations from Orthodox Christian Craft Supply.

Order this DVD from Archangel Books on how to decorate Pysanky Eggs. Step-by-step for beginners.

Or, you can learn from this website: LEARNPYSANKY.COM

You can order Pysanky kits from Chinaberry or HearthSong, two of my favorite online sites for gifts, books, and toys.

Happy Feast of St. Stephen!

Saint Stephen is commemorated on December 26 in the West and on December 27 in the East.  At the bottom of this post, I have linked two excellent books that we read to our children about King Wenceslas, who himself died a martyr's death and became a saint...

Good King Wenceslas looked out

on the feast of Stephen,

when the snow lay round about,

deep and crisp and even.

Brightly shown the moon that night,

though the frost was cruel,

when a poor man came in sight,

gathering winter fuel.

"Hither, page, and stand by me.

If thou know'st it, telling:

yonder peasant, who is he?

Where and what his dwelling?"

"Sire, he lives a good league hence,

underneath the mountain,

right against the forest fence

by Saint Agnes fountain."

"Bring me flesh, and bring me wine.

Bring me pine logs hither.

Thou and I will see him dine

when we bear them thither."

Page and monarch, forth they went,

forth they went together

through the rude wind's wild lament

and the bitter weather.

"Sire, the night is darker now,

and the wind blows stronger.

Fails my heart, I know not how.

I can go no longer."

"Mark my footsteps my good page,

tread thou in them boldly:

Thou shalt find the winter's rage

freeze thy blood less coldly."

In his master's step he trod,

where the snow lay dented.

Heat was in the very sod

which the Saint had printed.

Therefore, Christian men, be sure,

wealth or rank possessing,

ye who now will bless the poor

shall yourselves find blessing!

STEPHEN'S FEAST by Jean Richardson, illustrations by Alice Englander

"The carol about "Good King Wenceslas'' is expanded into a sentimental story in which a rather thoughtless young page is taken along to see how the less fortunate live; the bounty he and his king take to the humble cottage is shared in a sumptuous feast after the king himself builds up the fire. The telling is adequate if prosaic; it does serve to explicate John Mason Neale's verse, which younger children may find obscure. Englander's attractive illustrations set the story appropriately in medieval Eastern Europe; the page (also named Stephen--it's his birthday as well as the saint's day) looks like an appealing blond member of a modern third grade, while the grandly clothed king is thoughtful and suitably benign. Not essential, but enjoyable." (ages 4-8) -- quote from Kirkus Associates.

GOOD KING WENCESLAS  by Pauline Baynes

Pauline Baynes' (Chronicles of Narnia) beautiful Byzantine-influenced illustrations accompany her exciting telling of the story behind the carol of  King Wenceslas.  (Ages 8 and up)  Her historical note at the end of the book says:  "Wenceslas probably lived between AD 907-929, and began ruling Bohemia about AD 925.  He founded many churches, but his attempt to convert all his subjects to Christianity was not popular.  The precise date of this assassination is not certain, but it was probably September or December AD 929.  He was later canonised, and became a patron saint of Bohemia.

HAPPY ST. LUCIA DAY!

Icon from the hand of Luke Dingman

December 13th commemorates St. Lucia Day for Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran Christians. (In England, she is called "St. Lucy".)

My daughter was only three years old when she participated in the first St. Lucia Procession we ever attempted at our church.  Now, 20 years later, she watches and sings with the adults as the young girls process down the aisle, following the oldest girl, who represents Lucia and is wearing a "crown" of candles.  I'm sure each girl, dressed in a white gown with red sash - symbolizing the saint's commitment to purity and her martyrdom - anticipates the year she will finally wear the traditional "Lucia Crown" (with battery-operated candles, as opposed to open flames!)

HER HISTORY
Lucia was a Christian, living in Sicily during the fourth century. Her parents had arranged for her to wed, against her will.  Lucia vowed to remain a virgin, instead of marrying a pagan, and gave her dowry to the poor.  Her fiancee denounced her and reported her to the authorities. Since Christianity was against the law at that time in the Roman Empire, Lucia was put to death.

HER CELEBRATION
During the Middle Ages, Swedes "adopted" this Italian saint. The name Lucia itself means "light", which the people of Sweden don't see a lot of during the winter. December 13th was the longest night of the year (Winter Solstice under the old Julian Calendar) so, in the darkness of Sweden, this holy-day also celebrated the fact that the days would begin to grow longer.

The traditional "St. Lucia Procession" originated in Sweden, and is practiced in homes, churches, and communities there.  In Norway, children bring the procession to nursing homes and hospitals, serving lussekatt buns to the elderly. Scandinavian immigrants have brought the celebration to the U.S. - look for Swedish Christmas Fairs and Lutheran churches in your community that might host processions during December (that's how I saw my first St. Lucia Procession!)

Take a minute or so to watch this beautiful traditional Swedish Lucia Procession...



PICTURE BOOKS ABOUT ST. LUCIA:


Lucia Saint of Light, by Katherine Bolger Hyde, illustrations by Daria Fisher (ages 6 and up).  Do you have a daughter who is interested in knowing why girls wear white dresses, balance a crown of candles on their heads, and carry a platter of saffron buns on St. Lucia Day?  Katherine Bolger Hyde does a wonderful job of explaining these customs, in this beautiful book with two parallel stories - about a modern-day girl named Lucy, and a 4th-Century Saint named Lucia.  The tales are interwoven as Lucy prepares to celebrate her "nameday" and her mother explains to her the origins of the story of St. Lucia and the background behind the traditions of her celebration and her association with Sweden.  At the end of the book, you'll find the "Santa Lucia" song (with words and music), her icon, verses from her Feastday Aposticha, and a recipe. (She also offers some great links/resources.)


Lucia Morning in Sweden by Ewa Jydaker, illustrated by Carina Stalhberg. (ages 5-10)  A story about three children as they prepare for their St. Lucia Day celebration.  It includes the Lucia song, recipes for ginger snaps and saffron buns, a summary of the Lucia legend, and two patterns for the Lucia gowns.  (You'll have to search for this cute book, which is currently out of print.)


                    Lucia, Child of Light:  The History and Traditions of Sweden's Lucia Celebration, by Florence Ekstrand. (Also currently out of print, but probably available at your local library.)  This book introduced us to Saint Lucia when my daughter was young.  It traces the history of St. Lucia and includes a recipe and the Lucia song in both English and Swedish.  (ages 6 and up)

Kirsten's Surprise:  A Christmas Story, by Janet Beeler Shaw. (ages 9-12) From the AMERICAN GIRL series:  a short story about Kirsten Larson, a nine-year-old girl from Sweden, who has moved with her family to the Minnesota frontier in 1854. With Christmas approaching, Kirsten is excited about introducing her cousins to the Saint Lucia celebration. The day before Saint Lucia Day, Kirsten's father decides to go get the family's trunks out of storage (where Kirsten's dress is being stored) and Kirsten is just dying to go with him. However, as a Minnesota winter storm descends, she finds that her help is more needed then she could have imagined.

WILL THE REAL SANTA CLAUS PLEASE STAND UP?

"Every year, Christian parents face a dilemma: what to do about Santa Claus. He's everywhere, that "jolly old elf," hawking tires, toys, and Playboy magazine, sitting in shopping malls taking orders for the latest batteries-not-included whizbang. Although movies about him portray him as someone concerned about the left-out child, his hymnography (think about the words to Santa Claus Is Coming to Town! "You'd better watch out, you'd better not cry...") carries a theology of vengeful justice ...

"A right Jolly Old Elf" by Thomas Nast 

As a matter of fact, this Santa Claus is not associated with Christ. He may be appropriate to affluent Victorian Christmases with huge candle-laden Christmas trees and middle-class American living rooms (with or without chimneys) where a snack awaits near the comfy chair. But in a stable with the Infant Jesus? They're from different worlds.


Another dilemma that parents may find more immediately painful is that every year brings a new decision—whether to maintain the lie of Santa's existence or to tell children the truth, at the risk of imitating that bah-humbugging (and also fictional) Christmas character, Scrooge..."

There is an answer, though: Saint Nicholas, the real Saint Nicholas, a bishop of Myra in Lycea, who died around AD 350." (quotes from an article"Will the real Santa Please Stand?  Inviting St. Nicholas Into Our Christmas", by Daria Gray and Jan Bear.  To read it in its entirety click here.)

Vintage Italian Postcard of St. Nicolaus

Mosaic Icon of St. Nicholas

Tomorrow, December 6th, is St. Nicholas Day and is celebrated all around the Christian world.  Have you ever wondered how the tradition of St. Nicholas and stockings started?  There are several good children's books on the subject, which I'd like to highlight today and tomorrow.  And I'd also like to direct you to a wonderful website that has fun activities that you can do at home with your children for St. Nicholas Day and way more information than I can put in this post!


Santa, Are You For Real? by Harold Myra.  This book was originally published in 1977, illustrated by Dwight Walles.  My father worked for Thomas Nelson Publishers and I remember when he brought it home and we read for the first time about the "real Santa".  It was republished in 1997, this time with illustrations by Jane Kurisu.

Convinced that Santa does not exist, a little boy (Todd) who's been teased by his friends at school, questions his father.   His dad gently relates the story of a young Nicholas, born less than 300 years after Christ,  who did good deeds in secret for the poor and grew up to become the bishop of Myra.  "After he died people called him a saint, because that's what someone is who loves God so much."  
The little boy decides to give gifts to his family and be like St. Nicholas.  I love the ending, which doesn't debunk the tradition of Santa:

"So they all sat around and they talked half the night,

while Todd thought he saw, in the snow and moonlight, 

a bright-eyed St. Nicholas with his sack, looking in, 

and wide 'cross his face, a jolly old grin."

Saint Nicholas web pages for kids.

19th Century Russian Icon

BOOKS BY CLAIRE BRANDENBURG, ABOUT MONKS AND PRAYER...

If you read my post about the book UNDER THE GRAPEVINE, by Chrissi Hart, then you've already been introduced to the beautiful artwork of Claire Brandenburg.  Claire, herself, has written and illustrated four beautiful children's books I'd like to mention today...



DANIEL AND THE LION (Conciliar Press) is a unique picture book, set in modern times, about an American boy named Daniel, who must face his own "Lion" - fear - brought on by a bully who has been picking on him at school.  Find out how Daniel receives help and comfort from not only his friends and family, but his guardian angel and the saints, in facing his fear.

"Jesus have mercy on me. I am really afraid of that Paul guy at school Help me.  Take away my fear"

THE MONK WHO GREW PRAYER (Conciliar Press)  I love this sweet, simple telling of a Monk who prays continually day and night as he goes about his tasks, such as working in his garden and chopping wood.

As he works, he is really growing prayer.

SONG OF THE TALANTON (Conciliar Press)  A visitor to a women's desert monastery is awoken early in the morning for prayer with the nuns by the rhythmic summons of the talanton.   (A talanton is a board used in monasteries for tapping out the call to prayer for different services during the day.)  This book comes with a wonderful audio CD.

THE TUMBLED STONE (New Varatec Publishing) In this beautifully told and illustrated tale, a pilgrim visiting Spruce Island (of St. Herman) in Alaska, finds a smooth stone that God uses to reveal to him the Saints of North America.

To learn more about Claire and all her books, visit her website.  Claire lives in Taos, New Mexico.

FINDING PEACE...

Who better to follow my last post about animal-lover James Herriot than St. Francis of Assisi and St. Seraphim of Sarov?

Painting by Marilyn Moyes

THE GOOD MAN OF ASSISI by Mary Joslin, with illustrations by Alison Wisenfeld, for ages 4-8, is a perfect introduction to the story of the life of this peaceful saint of the West and his love for all - but especially, for animals.  It very simply explains how Francis turned from a life of knighthood and war and parties, to a life of poverty, prayer, and devotion to Christ.  The restful watercolor illustrations portray the medieval Italian countryside and St. Francis as its peaceful inhabitant perfectly.  His prayer, "Lord make me an instrument of your peace..." is printed on the last page.







SAINT SERAPHIM'S BEATITUDES:  BLESSINGS FOR OUR PATH TO HEAVEN, by Fr. Daniel Marshall, illustrations by Paul Drozdowski  (Based on the life of the Wonderworker of Sarov).  Ages 4 & up.    Some may not be familiar with St. Seraphim.   He is one of the most renowned Russian monks of the Eastern Orthodox Church.  To many he advised:  "Acquire a peaceful spirit, and around you thousands will be saved".   He died in 1833.  This book is lavishly detailed and full of the Saint's sayings and events from his life.

Wild animals—bears, rabbits, wolves, foxes and others—came to the hut of this ascetic. 

SAINTS OF THE BRITISH ISLES

CONCILIAR PRESS offers three wonderful picture books for children, about three different saints of the British Isles.  They are being offered at 30% off for a limited time, through Conciliar's website.

The first, THE LIFE OF SAINT PATRICK, is written and illustrated by Zachary Lynch.  Most of us grew up with the custom of wearing green on St. Patrick's Day and we may have even heard that St. Patrick used the clover (shamrock) to teach the people of Ireland about the Holy Trinity.  But do you know the story of how sixteen-year-old Patrick arrived on the island of Hibernia (the ancient name for Ireland), left, and eventually returned as a missionary?

Lynch's gorgeous Celtic illuminations bring the story to life, and draw us into the isolated land of a pagan Irish King and his druids.  St. Patrick faced many dangers, but said, 

"I was not afraid of these things, because of the promise of heaven,

because I have thrown myself into God's hands,

who reigns over all things."

The second book is THE LIFE OF SAINT BRIGID, Abbess of Kildare, lovingly told by Jane G. Meyer.  Again we see Zachary Lynch's captivating and colorful illustrations, full of Celtic influence.

"Brigid saw Christ in everyone she met, and had

a particular love for those less fortunate than herself."

Her father, a chieftain, becomes weary of Brigid's generosity and takes her away to be sold to a neighboring king.  While the deal is being settled with the king, Brigid gives away her father's sword to a poor leper.  The king, realizing that Brigid would give away his wealth as well, advises Brigid's father to release her from slavery and grant her freedom. 

Brigid's prideful father yields to the plan, but tries to force her to  marry - which leads Brigid to scar her own face, in order to be left alone by her family.  They finally understand her desire to devote herself purely to Christ, and she is allowed to become a nun,

"...marrying Christ and His Church instead of man.

And as a sign of God's hand upon her, the scar on her cheek was healed

as the priest placed the white veil upon her head."  

The rest of the story is about Brigid, Abbess of Kildare, who tends sheep and the poor, founds convents, works miracles, and visits kings.  St. Brigid is known today as a patron of travelers, healers, and midwives; and a protector of flocks and herds, and newborn babies.  

THE RAVENS OF FARNE, by Donna Farley, with illustrations by Heather Hayward, is a story from the life of St. Cuthbert, who lived in England in the 7th Century A.D.  When he moves to the Island of Farne, he is greeted by the many birds that inhabit the island. 

"The birds built nests to hold their eggs,

And the monk built a place to hold his prayers."

After St. Cuthbert plants grain and is harvesting it, the birds suddenly descend and try to steal it.  The monk is surprised as he tells them:

"If God Himself has said you may, I will give you leave to eat.

But if not -

- if not, stop taking what is not yours and be off!"

You'll have to read the story to find out what happens and how the birds end up helping the Saint.  To this day, it  is a law on the Farne Islands that people may not hurt the birds who dwell there!