European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 27, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Variations on a familiar theme by the stars and stripes Ost american easter traditions originated in Europe so it is not surprising that Many of the celebrations on this Side of the Atlantic Are similar to what we know 7 \ v but there Are interesting National variations and some observances that Are virtually unknown to Many americans living in Europe. \ i v. In Britain eggs symbolizing resurrection and life Are As much a part of easter celebrations As they Are in the a United states. And like their american counterparts the eggs Are also dyed and used in easter egg hunts.,77 a a the British also observe a centuries old custom of v. Eating hot Cross buns on Good Friday. The buns Are spiced with cinnamon Nutmeg fruit  currants and the Cross markings Are made either by a knife or placing strips of pastry on top before baking. Several theories exist As to Why the spiced yeast buns Are consumed. A. A one theory is. That the circular shaped Bun symbolizes the Sun while the Cross Symbol on the top of the buns dividing the Bun into four parts signifies the four seasons of the year. 7 v a a a a Quot /. 7 7 .7 7 a 7 a v a. V another is that Bakers used to always Mark bread with a a Cross before baking to Ward Oft evil spirits. When the practice was deemed foolish they decided to keep the tradition when making hot Cross buns. Quot 7. \ 7 7 a in Germany children wait eagerly  easter Bunny just As in the United states. In some regions such As the Odenwald in the state of Hesse youngsters go door to door on easter sunday wishing Happy easter and. Receiving coloured eggs and sweets in return. Another custom is egg throwing children gather with hard boiled eggs and vie to see who can throw an egg the farthest the Winner gets to keep All the other eggs Quot a often branches Are Bung with coloured or painted eggs and placed in the Home in Many towns in the Franzische. 7 Schweiz franconian Switzerland Region East of Bamberg in Bavaria a popular annual event is the  easter Fountain test. The Fountain and the Central Square a Are decorated with eggs and streamers and there is a kind of mini carnival. �?~7 7 7 .7 77 a a. For greeks easter surpasses Christmas As the a biggest Holiday of the year. Every Day during holy week is marked Bysom kind of Observance. On Friday afternoon solemn processions Mark the crucifixion saturday night most families a including Small children a go to Church for a late night service. At Midnight candlelight processions Mark the resurrection. In some towns pandemonium Breaks out As fireworks Are lit and children run around with  a a sunday is a time for families to be together for drinking. Wine and eating Lamb roasted Over a spit outdoors. It is a. Truly festive occasion with dancing in the streets singing and much merriment. It a a a Quot a True to the greek character it is also a time of warmth and generosity. Total strangers May be invited to join in a a celebrating with a family in eating the symbolic sacrificial. Lamb. Because the orthodox Church uses the old. Calendar the greek easter Seldom Falls on the same Date. A As in Catholic and protestant countries. This year it is april in Spain the  holy week celebrations Are marked  pageantry in some cities. Floats with figures depicting the crucifixion file through City streets. A 7. A. A a. A. Easter celebrations in France fend to be Low key affairs. As in most countries the observances . Overshadowed by Christmas. Families get together on. Easier sunday for a festive meal. Some people attend a. Church services on saturday night and others on sunday. Children get goodies on easter morning but in some a a a areas the treats Are not brought by the easter Bunny a a they Are brought by the Church Bells which do not ring a from Good Friday to easter. Tradition says they have a a a gone wandering Quot to Rome and on easter they return with chocolate Bells 7�� 7.-7 7.7. S. If any italian children know about the easter Bunny it is because american youngsters told them a. Exchanging decorated eggs however is an old italian a custom  have replaced hens eggs a though. And instead of Yolks the colourfully wrapped ornately decorated eggs contain gifts that can be anything from a toy to a piece of jewelry depending on an egg s a Price the most expensive eggs Cost several Hundred a. Dollars 7c 7 s a a 7. Quot Quot a traditional religious processions take place in various a italian communities during holy week. On Palm sunday in Maenza South of Rome adults and children dress in a historical costumes and spread carpets and Flowers on the streets to reenact the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem nearly half the population of Procida a Small Island near Naples dons White Robes and Turquoise capes to carry heavy elaborate floats through the streets. A a a a Quot a. Since 1765, the people of Florence have observed. , by pulling to the  City s Cathedral a a towering float covered with Flowers and filled with fireworks. As they sing the hymn of the Gloria a toy rocket disguised As a Dove is launched at the float and ignites the fireworks As the City s Bells join in the noisy Celebration. Contributing to this report staff writers Gary Miller Norm Zeigler and Amy Geiszler Jones a. A a. \ a a. At avas amps photos by Dave Didio Wanedia Wright gets some pointers from fifth Grade teacher Harriet Wilson. Ricardo Gonzales left concentrates on painting his egg. German teacher Jenny thou hangs the finished eggs on the a easter tree Quot branches. Easter egg artistry by Randy Pruitt. Staff write Rit teacher Mari jewel Ficken says her 21-year-old.son s eyes still Light up every time he 7 recalls the easter when he joined in with 7 7 hundreds of other children to Roll eggs across the White House Lawn. That was 10 years ago ,. She Hopes the 5th-Grade pupils at Mark Twain a a a  elementary school in Heidelberg Germany will hold fond memories of this easter for a Long time too. But these students won t put their eggs on the ground to. Roll or hide. They la hang them from a tree. The Young americans Are making an egg tree a custom that comes from the same country that gave America the Christmas tree a Germany. 7 a a Jenny thou the German teacher who is showing the children How to decorate the eggs and Dangle them from 7 the Branch of a Birch tree said the origin of the tradition remains a mystery a ,. A a. A qts  Symbol of new life. Eggs were decorated m a fresh Spring colors to let us  Spring is on  thou told the students a Quot a ,. A thou said eggs once wore Given As gifts in the 7 springtime As they became More plentiful after Winter a. Eggs also a Symbol of Fertility wore once presented As wedding presents. Quot. A. A. A a a the youngsters who had made the eggs hollow by punching tiny holes in each end and blowing out the. Contents quickly discovered that the elaborate designs they studied in class weren t easy to duplicate. A a Quot it s hard just trying to make lines Quot remarked Zach a Peck 11, As the Paintbrush  in his fingers. Quot it must have Boon difficult for people to paint such 7 intricate designs. It makes me appreciate them  a a added Molissa Gladkowski 11. 7  7 7. Robby Montoya however was t intern idled Bylthe elaborate artistry. The 10-year-old quickly coloured his entire egg red then used a paper puncher attacked a. Sheet of shiny Gold paper taking care he pasted the Small glistening dots  the fragile eggshell. 7 the hollowed out decorated eggs May be kept from. Year to year and brought out every Spring to decorate the a egg True at this time , painted eggs As Well As other easier ornaments  on branches Are for Sale in. A German stores. Page 14 the stars and stripes wednesday March 27, 1991 the stars and stripes Page 15