EASTER TRADITION

The first time I put my feet on Belgian ground it was Easter, and I was very disappointed because I couldn't see a single Easter Bunny, there was nothing. In the shop windows I saw chocolate fishes and choclate bells and living little yellow chicken (that was the only thing I found cute, but later I thought different about it) So it seemed to me that they didn't celebrate Easter in this country ! Later I learned that the bells represented the bells of Rome, the church bells. The story said that as they ring every day of the year, they stop on thursday until saturday evening. During these days they go to Rome and rest from the whole year's work. Then on Easter sunday they come back with a lot of eggs which they drop in parcs or gardens or also in flats and houses.

For all children Easter egg huntings are organized in parks by the city and colored eggs and chocolate eggs are hidden in the bushes or behind trees.

In the past the chocolate shops were full of chocolate bells, wrapped in golden foil and yellow ribbons. But slowly slowly the Easter Bunny replaced them although children still believe that the eggs and bunnies are brought by the bells of rome.

In the 50th you didn't see one single Easter bunny in the shop windows. There were chocolate fishes symbolizing Good Friday and eggs. Unfortunately also little living yellow chickens, some of them survived but most of them died. Beginning 60th it was not allowed anymore and they were replaced by fluffy false chicken.

With the arriving of the EU (Commun Market at that time) the Easter Bunny arrived too and today you will see everywhere Easter Bunnies and eggs and only sometimes bells in chocolate.