Brentford (Middlesex) - A town to remember - Stories from Janis Biddle (nee Holland)

EASTER TIME Madonna Lilies

A trip to the supermarket this morning where I saw a wonderful
display of Chocolate Easter eggs, it is difficult to believe that this
custom has only been around for about one hundred years. I
remember coming downstairs one Easter Sunday morning, to a nicely
laid table of brightly coloured hard-boiled eggs. Eggs have always associated with Easter and the coming of spring, a symbol of birth and resurrection. Egg rolling, which takes place in some parts of the country, is said to denote the rolling away of the stone from Christ's tomb. However we think of them, their bright boxes, their cheerful wrappers announce that winter is behind us and spring is on the way. Enjoy your Easter eggs, especially the chocolate ones! This Easter, I'm sure that many churches through out the land will be decorated with beautiful white Madonna lilies. Looking through the book of flowers I see that the Madonna Lilies symbolising purity, the lily is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, but it is much older then that. Legend tells us that it first grew from the tears of Eve when she was cast out of the Garden of Eden. Certainly it had sacred associations long before Christ, and lilies were found painted on the walls of places in Crete 1500 years before the birth. At one time the "lilies of the field" which Jesus spoke about were thought to be anemones, but more recent research shows that they may have been Madonna lilies. The early Christian church adopted them as a symbol of purity, and when they were kept in a house it was believed that the occupants would be surrounded by an aura of holiness and protected from evil. Nowadays, Madonna lilies, with all the lovely thoughts attached to them and described as "like saintly vestals, pale in prayer", are much sought after for weddings, flower festivals and perhaps most of all, Easter.

Spelling It Out

E is for Eggs

A is for Anthem we'll sing out today,

S is for Snowdrops, so white and so pure,

T is for Thanks that will always endure;

E is for Ending of the passing of Lent,

R is for Rejoice in the victory God sent!

I hope you enjoy the rest Don't forget to send your Comments

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Last Updated: 5th NOVEMBER 2005