There is always more to learn about French traditions!
In a random computer search, I found the following information about a French Easter tradition where the custom of delivering “Easter Eggs” is associated with church bells.
In France, there is a very special magical tradition for Easter. Magical holy bells (with little wings…) They are called “les cloches de Pâques”. The Catholic tradition dictates that Church bells don’t ring between Good Friday “Vendredi Saint” and Easter Sunday, to commemorate the death of Christ and his resurrection. In France, a traditionally Catholic country, children are told that bells bring Easter eggs. In a sign of mourning, church bells fall silent between Maundy Thursday (the Last Supper) and Easter Sunday (the resurrection). But on Easter Sunday, the bells have little wings and deliver the Easter Eggs.
Although in many cultures, Easter eggs are associated with the birth of spring and resurrection, the French tradition is new information to my family. I’m glad to learn this because we have been collecting eggs for many years.
During my family’s travels, I have purchased a beautiful collection of marble, porcelain and wooden eggs in a rainbow of bright colors. A friend of mine even sent me a wonderful egg when she visited the Ukraine during her genealogy research.
On Easter Sunday, these colorful eggs are arranged in a cluster and placed in a decorative bowl to adorn our dinner table as a seasonal centerpiece.
Another description about this tradition explains how, in France, the eggs come from les cloches (= bells.) As the story goes, it’s the bells from the churches in Rome, who fly all the way to your garden in France to drop chocolate eggs. They want to share the joy of the Resurrection of Jesus, which Christians celebrate on Easter. So there’s no Easter rabbit
All those lovely eggs collected during my family’s travels now have a new French connection to Easter!
Joyeuses Pâques à tous!