Easter and Passover traditions examined

There are a lot of conflicting stories about how hiddenfood became traditions at Easter and Passover,but one common thread is the connection between this time of year and renewal.

Christians will celebrate Easterand Jewish people will celebrate Passover this weekend.

For Christians, eggs serveas a symbol of new life.

"To be able to draw into this ideathat we are called to uniting ourselves to the resurrection of Jesus,"said Father James Hughes fromSt. Patrick's Church in Vancouver.

Eggs were never to be eaten during Lent for the 40 days, and because of that there is preparation of seeing the joy of those eggs come out on Easter."

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At its core, Passover is the celebration of the story of the Exodus, the Jewish people leaving slavery.

Matzais the traditional food, which is unleavenedbread - -representing howthe Jewish peopleneeded to leave slavery in a hurryso there was no time for the bread to rise.

Hiding andhuntingfood arepart of both holiday's celebrations

For Easter, one story says it began in Scotland as a spring tradition for finding wild bird eggs, which would be plentiful at this time of year.

Another contendsthat early Lutherans may have done something similar as a way of hunting for the tomb of Jesus.

Hunting for food is alsoan important part of the Passover dinner celebration.

Based on a Greek tradition of gathering for a long conversation at the meal,Rabbi Dan Moskovitzsays itis custom to hide the dessert, called an afikoman, from the person leading the meal because without it, the meal will go on and on - - but the meal needs to end by midnight.

"There's always a big negotiation about who has the afikoman and we need it because we have to end by midnight and we can't end without it."

To listen to the full interview, listen to the audio labelled Holiday Origins