Event Info
Eggs, Magical Eggs:
[Description]
Please join Gather for a candlelit evening of “egg magic” ...
6:30pm - 9:30pm
$35
Hard-copy tickets
Physical tickets at: Eventbrite, https://eggsmagicaleggs.eventbrite.ca
Event Description
[Description]
Please join Gather for a candlelit evening of “egg magic” as we partner with Nourish Cafe & Bistro and artist Elisa Rathje of Appleturnover.tv in a celebration of spring's most ancient and beloved festivity—the decorating, blessing, exchanging and eating of eggs! Participants will learn the arts of using natural plant based dyes, explore the sacred meanings behind decorative motifs and symbols, and partake in traditional ceremonial dishes and foods.
Tickets: $35 | Includes eggs for take home, craft costs, tasting menu and a very good time. Limited number available only through Eventbrite.
History & Traditions of the Spring Equinox:
Spring Equinox marks the turn in the wheel of the year when winter is officially done. Day and night come into balance, the sun begins it's ascendency and hens, cued by the increasing light, begin laying eggs once again. So its no wonder that eggs have been an integral part of spring equinox festivities for thousands of years.
The tradition of egg coloring is said to have started in Persia in 3000 B.C. to celebrate the spring equinox, the Persian new year. In Slavic countries the first eggs of the season were dyed yellow and gold to represent the sun and decorated with magical symbols (stars, spirals, flowers, birds) to ensure a good harvest and prosperity. In Old Europe, baskets of decorated eggs were exchanged between neighbours as gestures of friendship during communal festivities.
Across the old world feasts were held after the first full moon of the spring equinox. Ancient Egyptians offered small round cakes marked with a representation of the horns of an ox to their lunar goddess. The Greeks also decorated small spiced cakes or buns with a cross, possibly to represent the four quarters of the moon.
European dishes include braided egg breads, savory egg pies, custards and candied spring flowers. Russians makes a delightful sweet egg-based fresh cheese called Paskha. In Persia seven ceremonial foods fsabzeh (sprouts) samanou (a dish of wheat germ or lentils), sib (apples), sonbol (hyacinth), senjed (jujube), seer (garlic) and somagh(sumac) — represent the seven good angels, heralds of life and rebirth, health, happiness, prosperity, joy and beauty.
Our Program:
Inspired by the time worn sacred traditions of the Spring Equinox our Gathering will celebrate the ”egg rites” of spring like so:
Craft
Artist Elisa Rathje of Appleturnover will guide us through the old time art of dyeing eggs using local plants, roots, barks and vegetables. We'll explore the magical uses of herbs and the meaning of colours and decorative symbols used to bring good luck, love, fertility and abundance. Then we’ll craft; colouring and decorating a basket of eggs for exchange and take-home. Eggs & craft supplies supplied.
Connect
In the European custom, we will place our eggs on a spring altar adorned with greenery and spring flowers for blessing. After taking a quiet moment to honour the coming of spring, we’ll divvy up the bounty and exchange our eggs, gifting each other with baskets of magical eggs to take home.
Eat
We'll complete our celebration with a spring equinox-inspired tasting menu. The culinary team at Nourish will intertwine local seasonal ingredients with traditional recipes eaten at this time year from various parts of the globe.
In-Person Event
Thu. March 20th 2014 + Add to Calendar
Nourish Cafe & Bistro
