In the manner of all traditions, this one has grown until it has become a vital part of our Spring celebrations. We usually combine it with an Easter Tea Party but the weather and the general muddle of life delayed things a little.
To explain...
Every year we ask a strong, lusty man to throw a fresh egg over our three storey terraced house to ensure good luck and safe keeping for all who live beneath its roof.
The second part needs two women who stand face to face. They each take a step back and throw a newly laid egg to each other, then take a further step and throw again. Each step and successful egg-catch ensures a happy, lucky month.
We had gathered and eaten the all important sandwiches, cakes and cream tea which prepare us for the rituals that lay ahead.
I explained the rules-
The Egg was chosen and approved
It was a serious business
It was the first year that Teddy was deemed old enough to take part- what a test of man-hood!
It was a great throw
an anxious moment
Not quite over the top this year but a noble first try!
Then Jonathan tried...
Mikol tried...
David really entered into the spirit ...
with a worthy throw
But to no avail....
It was finally Ian who took the honours this year-
with a magnificent effort
Emily and Freya were the chosen women this year.
They had skillfully managed to bring us 11 months of good luck when....
disaster struck!
Eggy hands are just the price you have to pay for a happy home!
It was an afternoon full of laughter, teasing and good humour.
Thank you to all my friends and neighbours and especially to Sam, who took all the stylish photographs.
To explain...
Every year we ask a strong, lusty man to throw a fresh egg over our three storey terraced house to ensure good luck and safe keeping for all who live beneath its roof.
The second part needs two women who stand face to face. They each take a step back and throw a newly laid egg to each other, then take a further step and throw again. Each step and successful egg-catch ensures a happy, lucky month.
We had gathered and eaten the all important sandwiches, cakes and cream tea which prepare us for the rituals that lay ahead.
I explained the rules-
The Egg was chosen and approved
It was the first year that Teddy was deemed old enough to take part- what a test of man-hood!
It was a great throw
an anxious moment
Not quite over the top this year but a noble first try!
Then Jonathan tried...
Mikol tried...
with a worthy throw
It was finally Ian who took the honours this year-
with a magnificent effort
There was great rejoicing all round
Emily and Freya were the chosen women this year.
They had skillfully managed to bring us 11 months of good luck when....
disaster struck!
Eggy hands are just the price you have to pay for a happy home!
It was an afternoon full of laughter, teasing and good humour.
Thank you to all my friends and neighbours and especially to Sam, who took all the stylish photographs.
Hello Jane:
ReplyDeleteWell, we have heard of many 'rites of spring' but this newly laid egg festival is absolutely new to us!!
And, what a perfectly splendid idea this all is and such huge fun,no doubt.
As you say, the photographs of this superb event, beautifully and appropriately archived in sepia, are most enchanting. A good time has been had by all, of that there is no doubt.....until next year, then!
Hello Jane and Lance,
ReplyDeleteIt is such good fun and when we all gather for this silly spring event, it seems to banish all our winter blues!
Jane xx
This is a great tradition and looks very fun. Did you create it or is this a time honored egg throwing tradition? I would love to join in.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be a great idea if you took up this noble ritual and the egg throwing tradition spread far-and-wide! (And yes, I did make it up, based on various egg based Easter traditions and the fact I'm reputed to have been descended from a white witch...)Jane xx
DeleteWow - that looks great fun and what a way to celebrate spring with good company! When we lived in Wiltshire, our garden was at the bottom of a steep hill which threw us into shade through winter. We used to crack open a bottle of good malt whiskey to celebrate the coming of spring - when the first sun ray fell on the house!
ReplyDeleteI love the bottle of whiskey celebration, I think it's really important for every home to have their own personal rituals and ways of celebrating the seasons. Jane xx
DeleteI like it, and with Terra wonder if this is part of a larger tradition or strictly home grown. May the spring rains wash all of the broken eggs off your roof! Jim
ReplyDeleteHi Jim, Yes, you did guess right, these have grown from childhood traditions and games and have now become part of our village's Easter celebrations! The egg stains have been known to last quite some time but as you say- not this year! Jane xx
DeleteJane , While I have never heard of this it sounds like the most delightful tradition. So many who wish to participate. I am most certain with the effort expended your good luck will extend though out the year. Thank you for sharing. Bonnie
ReplyDeleteHello Bonnie, I love all good luck games and traditions that mark the changing seasons. There always seems to be something to celebrate! Jane xx
DeleteWhat a fun tradition. It looks like you have some wonderful friends and neighbors. Great pictures. Diane
ReplyDeleteHello Diane, Sam will be pleased with your kind praise of his photographs. We are so lucky to have such great friends and neighbours! Jane xx
DeleteAs traditions go - this must be the most egg centric I have heard about.
ReplyDeleteWishing you and your family the best of luck and good fortune for another year, Anna
I approve Anna! Somebody just had to make an egg-pun! Thank you for all your good wishes, Jane xx
DeleteI approve Anna- somebody just had to make an egg-pun! Thank you for all your good wishes. Jane xx
DeleteThat's brilliant - wot fun! I love the picture below of your back garden, Anna. Really pretty.
ReplyDeleteThank you, it was such a silly, cheerful day! I'm glad you like my photo of the May garden, it looks at its best then I think! Jane xx
DeleteThis has made me laugh on a wet cold day that feels more like November than May. You all look like you were having fun together. I have saved that lovely picture of your May garden for my background on the Ipad hope you don't mind. its my idea of how a garden should look. Karen X
ReplyDeleteHello Karen, I'm so glad you enjoyed our mad egg event! And thank you for the lovely complement about my garden, you are more than welcome to use the photo however it makes you happy! Jane xx
ReplyDeleteLittle did you know that one of those eggs would have landed on Ed Milliband, left shoulder! Was it one of your newly laid eggs or was it not? This is a very serious matter which needs consideration: how high should an egg be thrown in order to avoid embarassment to the leader of the Labour Party? Dear Jane, I'm afraid you and your lovely friends have got a lot to answer for!
ReplyDeletePS: LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF FUN, REALLY!
BTW: I have about 24 newly laid free range eggs and I've been trying to think about what I can do with them! Thank you for the recipe! You solved my problem!
HUGS
ANNA
xxx
Hi Jane!
ReplyDeleteI commented earlier, but the comment has disappeared! Maybe it was too long, or too silly!
SORRY!
HAPPY LONG WEEKEND!
ANNA
xxx
Hi Anna, I'm so glad your first comment reappeared, it made me laugh so, you daft thing!
DeleteHave a happy bank holiday,hope it's sunny ....
Jane xxx
What a wonderful ritual! I probably would have dropped the egg after month three. :D
ReplyDeleteHello Jen,
ReplyDeleteIt is great un and now seems such an important part of Spring and Easter celebrations! It is really stressful when it's your turn to catch the egg with everybody watching! Jane xx
Hello Jane and thank you for the comment you left ages ago on my blog (sorry for getting back to you so late)
ReplyDeleteIt sounds and looks like you had great fun!
Greeting from Venice :)
Michela