Thursday, April 9, 2009

Thursday Thirteen - 101 - 13 Victorian Easter Greetings


- 1















"When you start with a portrait and try to find pure form by abstracting more and more, you must end up with an egg." - Pablo Picasso


- 2















"Where man sees but withered leaves, God sees sweet flowers growing." - Albert Laighton


- 3









"The Germanic Goddess of fertility and spring, Eostre (pronounced yo'ster) symbolizes new growth and rebirth.

Once, when the Goddess was late in coming, a little girl found a bird close to death from the cold and turned to Eostre for help. A rainbow bridge appreared and Eostre came, clothed in her red robe of warm, vibrant sunlight which melted the snows. Spring arrived. Because the little bird was wounded beyond repair, Eostre changed it into a snow hare who then brought rainbow eggs. As a sign of spring, Eostre instructed the little girl to watch for the snow hare to come to the woods."

- Angelfire


- 4










"And Spring arose on the garden fair,
Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;
And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast
rose from the dreams of its wintry rest."

- Percy Bysshe Shelley


- 5















"Hope is the word which God has written on the brow of every man." - Victor Hugo


- 6














"The first edible Easter bunnies were made in Germany during the early 1800s. They were made of pastry and sugar.

The Easter bunny was introduced to American folklore by the German settlers who arrived in the Pennsylvania Dutch country during the 1700s.

The arrival of the Oschter Haws (a rabbit spirit) was considered childhood's greatest pleasure next to a visit from Christ Kindl (Christ-child) on Christmas Eve. The children believed that if they were good the Oschter Haws would lay a nest of colored eggs.

The children would build their nest in a secluded place in the home, the barn or the garden. Boys would use their caps and girls their bonnets to make the nests. The use of elaborate Easter baskets would come later as the tradition of the Easter bunny spread through out the country." - Celebration of Easter


- 7















"For I remember it is Easter morn,
And life and love and peace are all new born." - Alice Freeman Palmer


- 8















"Awake, thou wintry earth -
Fling off thy sadness!
Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth
Your ancient gladness!" - Thomas Blackburn


- 9









"Come and see! Oh, hurry, hurry!
For the Rabbit, kind and furry,
Has been here again and laid
Eggs in every nest we made!"

- Evaleen Stein


- 10















"The promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in spring-time." - Martin Luther


- 11















"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." - Albert Einstein


- 12










"Not the maker of plans and promises, but rather the one who offers faithful service in small matters." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe


- 13















"And in the solemn night I watch
Before the Easter morn.
So pure, so still the starry heaven,
So hushed the brooding air,
I could hear the sweep of an angel's wings
If one should earthward fare."

- Edna Dean Proctor

16 comments:

janetfaye said...

I love the first one with the baby chick!

anthonynorth said...

Some beautiful cards and quotes there. Unlike today's, written by ... some guy in the office.

Mia Celeste said...

Oh, what beautiful cards. I like the one with the angel and the lily. Happy Easter!

Jodi said...

Those are very pretty!

M. said...

well, my toddler liked your post! she kissed several of the bunnies. now i have lip smudges on my screen *g*

Alice Audrey said...

These are great.

It's been a long time since I've heard the Oestre story. I'd forgotten.

As to a painter abstracting to an egg, well of course. That's why most artists START with an egg shape, then go from there.

Akelamalu said...

I love all the cards you found Julia! :)

Janet said...

oh, I LOVE the photographer bunny!!!

Auntie Q said...

My favorite is #9! I also have an Easter greeting on my T13 post! Not as cute as #9 though. :)

Donica Covey said...

I LOVE THEM!

Donica Covey

Shelley Munro said...

The Victorians really knew how to do cards. I like their Christmas ones too and have a box of them. They're gorgeous.

HeatherK said...

VEry Nice Cards

Thomma Lyn said...

Oh wow, Julia -- each and every one of those is gorgeous.

colleen said...

So classic. They never go out of style. And I love the poems and quotes you matched them up with.

Gattina said...

Very interesting ! We always had Easter bunnies and colored eggs in Germany as far as I can remember.

Julia Phillips Smith said...

Janetfaye - I love the simplicity of that design.

Anthony - I find I'm really not attracted to the mod style of illustration currently out there. I'm much more into Victorian art - and my fascination with it has never diminished.

Brenda - I'm always really attracted to the Victorian cards that have gold framing on them.

Jodi - I can't resist them.

M - LOL!

Alice Audrey - interesting how you can begin or end with a pure form. Depends on where a person begins her journey.

Akelamalu - I always have to leave out so many other beautiful ones.

Janet - I love the pose that the Easter Bunny strikes!

Auntie Q - yours was pretty cute, too.

Donica - :-)

Shelley - I don't know what it is about the Victorian artists and illustrators. I always get the 'wow' factor in my heart when I see them.

Heather - Hope you're having a Happy Easter!

Thomma Lyn - I can't pick a favorite - please don't make me...!

Colleen - Thanks!

Travis - Glad you enjoyed them.

Gattina - Finally it makes more sense as to why a bunny brings eggs!