As Easter approaches there are some doozies to pick from: “Whipping the Herring” for example. In small Irish coastal towns a herring was hung from a pole on Easter Saturday and ceremoniously marched along Main Street. The sun is still integral to Easter which falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. A sacred female presence hovers behind most ancient festivals and Easter is named for the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre. Symbolised by the Hare and the Egg representing fertility and plenty she was the prototypical Easter Bunny!

Source: The Irish Times March 26, 2018 05:15 UTC