Origin of the Easter Bonnet
Written by e-Mom. Share on Twitter or FB. Subscribe in a Reader
Fact or Urban Legend?
The custom of new clothes for Easter goes back to early Christianity and what was known as "White Week." White week was a time that newly baptized Christians wore white linen robes for a whole week to symbolize their rebirth and new life. The new Christians were paraded around the country side, lead by a crucifix, to show people that they were starting a new life. The other church goers would wear new clothes.
The Emperor Constantine ordered Christians to wear their best clothes at Easter, the holiest time of the year. Europeans came to believe that new clothing worn on Easter Sunday would bring good luck, while old or used garments would usher in a year of misfortune.
The first public Easter parade in America occurred in 1860 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, when families strolled along the Boardwalk in their new Spring finery after the Sunday service. The tradition continued, with the most famous today being the Easter Parade and Easter Bonnet Festival along Fifth Avenue in New York City.
Image: Mandotts (Flickr). Join the Saturday PhotoHunt.
Written by e-Mom. Share on Twitter or FB. Subscribe in a Reader
Fact or Urban Legend?
The custom of new clothes for Easter goes back to early Christianity and what was known as "White Week." White week was a time that newly baptized Christians wore white linen robes for a whole week to symbolize their rebirth and new life. The new Christians were paraded around the country side, lead by a crucifix, to show people that they were starting a new life. The other church goers would wear new clothes.
The Emperor Constantine ordered Christians to wear their best clothes at Easter, the holiest time of the year. Europeans came to believe that new clothing worn on Easter Sunday would bring good luck, while old or used garments would usher in a year of misfortune.
The first public Easter parade in America occurred in 1860 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, when families strolled along the Boardwalk in their new Spring finery after the Sunday service. The tradition continued, with the most famous today being the Easter Parade and Easter Bonnet Festival along Fifth Avenue in New York City.
Image: Mandotts (Flickr). Join the Saturday PhotoHunt.
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Have you ever worn an Easter bonnet?
14 Comments:
I'm not big on hats, so I don't think I've ever worn a bonnet unless I was really young.
We attend church on Saturday night. JFC.org I polished my nails a pretty lavender for Easter, but we don't dress up much at my church.
BTW, Have a blessed Easter. Great article. Love that back ground information.
Yes I wore an Easter Bonnet when I was younger. I do love hats but don't really wear them, except for a baseball cap (for when I can't do anything with my hair day)....
Found that interested about how they believed it was good to wear new clothes for Easter...hmmmmm....Blessed Easter to you and yours dear sister...
It's definitely a very sweet hat :)
Happy Easter!
I have worn an Easter bonnet...when I was very young. I would wear it to Catholic Mass when Easter outfits were quite the rage. I haven't worn anything more than a visor since!
Happy Easter to you!
I love hats, but I don't think that I've worn an Easter hat since I was a toddler. I did however make my daughter wear one when she was small.
Happy Easter!!!
What a lovely looking hat :)
It looks cute...happy hunting.
Always wore them when I was little..Mom loved to dress us up.
mine's up, too
http://sandyben.blogspot.com/
No bonnet for me . . but I have lovely hats that would work if I did. :-)
I hope you stop by to see my take on the theme.
Very interesting where some of the things we do came from. Never knew why until now. I've never worn a bonnet, but use to always wear a new dress. My mother thought, she is a hat person. They look good on her too, not so much me!
Never have I worn an Easter bonnet although I may have worn a new hat for Church at Easter time.
The Easter Bonnet is one non Aussie celebration that has not made its way over here...apart from dress ups in junior school.
Although bunny ears were in great prominence this year.
So that explains the whole thing about having a new easterdress here. I had never heard of that being a christian in Norway. I had never heard of a easter bonnet either.
Thank you for linking up to Home Sanctuary so that I could find you and this blog entry. It sure answered a whole lot of questions I had.
Jan Parrish: Saturday night church... very neat. Lavender nails sound perfect for Easter!
Yes, the history behind traditions we take for granted is so enlightening.
Angela: Baseball caps on a bad hair day... What a plan! :~D
iMom: Nice to meet you!
Carolyn: Visors are useful, for sure!
April: Moms certainly do love dressing up our girls. :~D
Julie: Thanks!
Gengen: You too!
Sandy: Nice to meet you.
Lisa: I'll be over soon.
Kim: My Mom looked great in hats too. :~D
Ozjane: LOL, bunny ears!
Mariann: No Easter bonnets in Norway? Very interesting. :~D
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