Egg Rolling Races

In some areas in Wales - especially in the North-east the tradition of climbing a hill or mountain to greet the sun at Easter still exists. This is sometimes accompanied by dancing or gymnastic feats although most people find that actually climbing the hill is quite enough exercise!

At one time, egg rolling races where coloured hard boiled eggs were rolled down a hillside were popular. The winner was the person whose egg travelled the longest distance

Throwing White Flowers into the River

White flowers, and, in particular, white lilies are associated with new life and resurrection. They represent a mother’s milk. In some areas in Wales, lilies and other white flowers were thrown into the river where the current would carry them away into eternity. This custom still exists in some parts of Glamorgan.

Painting Eggs

Eggs are a symbol of new life and everlasting life as their shape has no real beginning or end. Hard boiled eggs were painted in bright colours and some colours and patterns had a particular significance. Fresh eggs were, in some areas, used in competitions where children would roll their ‘champions’ and try to break their opponents’ shells.

Chocolate eggs didn’t reach Wales until the late nineteenth century.

Clapping for Eggs

Going from house to house to scare away witches and bad spirits has been a common tradition in many European countries. In Wales, clapping for eggs using pieces of wood was popular - especially in Anglesey. The noise would drive away the bad spirits and the ‘clappers’ would be rewarded with an egg. In some areas a bonfire would be lit – again to drive away bad spirits – and clear winter debris!

The custom of carrying a chair decorated with spring flowers from house to house and lifting young women in it three times in return for a kiss was a fertility tradition associated with the spring.

Adorning the Graves

Palm Sunday is known in Wales as ‘Sul y Blodau’ (Flower Sunday) . Whole communities would clear and adorn graves with bright flowers. New clothes were also worn.

Eating Lamb

Lamb is described as food for a feast in the Bible where there are details of how the Israelites celebrating in Egypt were to prepare and eat the meat. There is another reason for eating lamb at Easter in Wales. We have the best in the world and plenty of it!

Sales of lamb in Wales rise 25% over the Easter period.

A Cymanfa Ganu Singing Festival

In Welsh chapels, the Easter Cymanfa Ganu was a huge event. Sometimes, booklets of hymns were produced with a selection for Cymanfa’r Plant (the Children’s Cymanfa). Practice sessions would be held for weeks before hand. In many chapels, Easter Monday was the big day for the Cymanfa Ganu and the chapel would be full. In some areas additional seating would be provided outside.

Bando

Bando, resembling hockey, was a popular game at festivals in Glamorgan until the nineteeth century. There have been some small-scale efforts in recent years to revive the game. The game was quite mature in that it had a fixed number of players, team colours and a fixed area of play. However, rules did vary from area to area which often led to heated disputes fuelled by alcohol. Bando had no direct link with the Easter celebrations but was popular at many parish festivals.

Christianity in Wales and Easter Dates

Tradition says that St Joseph of Arimathea first brought Christianity to Britain. But how about Wales? There would certainly have been Christians among the Roman troops who came to Western Britain. One Roman historian, however, notes that Christianity reached areas never conquered by the Romans. What is certain is that Christianity had a firm grip on Wales by the 6th century.

Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon on or after the Spring Equinox. This means that it can occur anytime between 22 March and 25 April!

The word Pasg probably derives from the Greek term used by the early Christians for the Passover - ‘pascha’. At Easter, the Paschal candle, the largest candle in the church was lit. Some have drawn attention to the link with ‘pesgi’ which means 'to fatten'.