Friday, April 22, 2011

S- Sanctus Sanctus Sanctus!

Dominus Deus Sabaoth.   France is primarily a Catholic country.  I guess after all the religion wars, Catholicism won out in these parts but I’m too lazy to Google the how or why right now.  I was raised Roman Catholic and had to go through the whole sh-bang – CCD classes, first communion, confession and confirmation.   After all that, I turned out to be what my grandmother refers to as a ‘Cafeteria Catholic’.  I take and accept what I agree with and kind of ignore what I don’t.  My grandmother, as you might have guessed, is the opposite of a ‘Cafeteria Catholic’.  But I firmly believe everyone has the right to whatever faith feels right to them.

With that said, this week the French are preparing the big Easter celebration.  But instead of the ‘Easter Bunny’ hopping down the bunny trail, here the eggs are brought to you by….

Church bells.

When I asked my French students how church bells were responsible for chocolate eggs appearing in your home or back yard they just shrugged.  Like the whole sticking each other with fish on April Fool’s Day, I guess the French don’t really put much stalk in the how or why’s behind tradition.  They just do it.  Which is fine by me!  If they wanna stick eachother with paper fish or run around looking for bells flying in the sky, that’s their prerogative.

A Catholic friend of mine explained, however, that from Thursday until Sunday, the church bells don’t ring.  That’s Catholic tradition.  So what they tell the kids is that on Thursday all the church bells sprout wings and fly away to Rome to see the Pope.   On their way back Sunday morning, they drop chocolate Easter eggs into all the back yards, arrive in their towers and sing their hearts out for the Easter celebration. 

Now, believing in a rabbit who delivers chocolate eggs makes about as much sense as all of that but I did believe for a long time.  (Actually my parents had to tell me the truth about both the Easter Bunny and Santa at an age I’m almost too embarrassed to divulge.  We writers just want to believe don’t we?  Imagination wins out every time?)  So I guess I can’t knock the French’s explanation of things.

I hope you guys all have a great Easter.  And look out for egg-projecting bells flying overhead!

*CQG*

17 comments:

Laura Pauling said...

I'm sure a lot of our traditions seem pretty silly too! :)

Sarah said...

Bells ... bunnies ... both are equally illogical, but so many things we believe in defy logic. I guess these particular traditions are a testament to the magic of childhood. There is a time in our lives when it's possible to believe these things.

Anne Gallagher said...

Monster Child asked me what time the Easter Bunny was coming to put the eggs in the backyard for an Easter Egg Hunt. (She had one at school last Friday and just KNOWS the rabbit will stop by our house.)

Growing up as a Catholic in the north, we didn't have hunts, we had baskets. Thurs thru Sun were high holy days and we did not run around with eggs, we went to church.

Another Hallmark tradition I think has been handed down.

Old Kitty said...

Awwww I love that idea of the bells flying off to see the pope, hence their silence! LOL!! It;s like the "angels are crying" when it;s raining explanation I so believed in when I was under 10 years old! LOL!!!

HAPPY EASTER!!! I;d like to think that most easter celebrations the world over consists of having chocolate in one form or other!! yay!! Take care
x

Stina said...

I grew up in England and there was no Easter Bunny (maybe there is now), so I have no idea why he exists. Not that I'm complaining. I love how my 6 yo is excited about him visiting (though he'll have to buy some stuff this morning after he hits the gym). ;)

Laura S. said...

What are you talking about, that your parents had to tell you the truth about the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus? I don't know what you mean. So I'm just going to get my Easter basket ready and anxiously await the Bunny on Sunday...

Angela said...

So how old where you when you stopped believing in Santa Claus?

Hart Johnson said...

But bells have no opposable thumbs! *looks at bunnies* Oh. teehee...

My daughter was late coming to the truth of it all... my son I think KNEW, but pretended to believe for my benefit (and still loudy proclaims belief so I can't NOT do the chocolate thing)

As for me... I was more an 'I have to uncover the truth' kid... May be why I write mystery instead of fantasy.

Anonymous said...

Your nobody til some bunny loves you

Lenny Lee said...

WHAT????!!!! theres no easter bunny????? no easter bells that drop those yummy chocolate eggs???? sacre bleu!!! yikes!!! say it aint so!!! im gonna have a happy easter anyway. hope you have one too!!
...grandes étreintes de lapin de chocolat de lenny

Lindsay said...

I grew up with the Easter Bunny tradition, but now I wonder if he has some deal going with the bells in France. Maybe he's too tired to hop across the channel. :)

Marjorie said...

Church bells that poop eggs, huh? Well, I suppose the Easter bunny laying eggs is still ridiculous. Whatever, it's chocolate and the kids (plus me) love chocolate!

Unknown said...

LOL why are you expecting logic from a catholic holiday???

BTW do you know why people paint easter eggs? (cute little story, that one)(let me know if you want to hear it otherwise I won't bore you)

T.x

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Tracy said...

You said, "I firmly believe everyone has the right to whatever faith feels right to them." I'm very curious to know what you mean by "feels right." Think about it...and you can't define it..then ask your grandmother. I'd love to hear your differences on this feeling of "right."

Maria Cisneros Toth Blog said...

Omigosh! I can't stand this... bells with wings and beaucoup de chocolate raining from the heavens! If I had known this as a kid, I would have wanted to move to France. Gimme the chocolate! Merci. Merci.

And I guess I'm a cafeteria Catholic, too! As a kid, I wanted to be a nun when I saw Debbie Reynolds in "The Singing Nun."But I also wanted to be like Sister Betrill (Sally Field) in the "Flying Nun."

Happy Easter! :-)

Jennifer said...

Very interesting. I kind of like that better then the bunny! This was the first year my son did not believe in the Easter bunny and it was kind of boring. I too am a cafeteria Catholic...much to the Chagrin of my family.

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