Canny lass

I’m sorry to have to be the one to break this to you, Moe, but the origins of the word Easter, are clearly described by the North- East’s very own Venerable Bede in his work The Origins of Time (8th century AD). Here he states that: “Eostur-month, which is now interpreted as the paschal month, was formerly named after the goddess Eostre, and has given its name to the festival.” Pilgrim is not insulting the Christian faith. He's just stating a plain fact. Ever wondered why Yule became Christmas? It's strange that the church kept the word Easter, though I believe the Catholoc church abandoned it in favour of Armania's 'Pascha' (meaning Passover). In many countries the tendency has been to adapt the Armenian word. Here we have Påsk, Spain has Pascua, France has Pâques, Iceland has Páska, Italy has Pasqua, Holland has Pasen and even in Swaheli it's called Pasaka.

You now bring Australian Easter eggs into the discussion. I’m not sure why. Perhaps you live in Australia? It took me 10 minutes this morning to find Easter products in Australia bearing the word ‘Easter’: Haigh’s Chocolates (makers of high quality confectionary in Australia since 1915) offer: Easter Bilby Anniversary Gift Pack (Text: “includes even two sets of ‘Easter’ Bilby ears”). The Ultimate Haigh’s Easter Selection, (“Text: “including Honeycomb ‘Easter’ Egg”). Milk Chocolate Honeycomb Egg, (“Easter Egg” clearly stated on front of packaging). Dark Chocolate Honeycomb Egg, (“Easte”r Egg” clearly stated on front of packaging). Haigh’s Chocolates also offer a Novelty ‘Easter’ Gift” and an “Easter Family Sharing Selection”. Australia’s reputedly largest online selection of Easter eggs, https://eastereggwarehouse.com.au have on offer from Pitsworth Confectionary (who boast of being “proudly Australian”): Candy Easter eggs 130g (Text: “Sugar Easter eggs”, clearly stated on front of package) Cadbury Hunt Bucket, 187g. (Text: “Happy Easter”, Centre front of Bucket) Cadbury Mixed Egg bag 545g (Text: “filled Easter eggs”, front of package) Cadbury Humpty Dumpty Carton 175g (Text: “7 Easter eggs inside”, front of package) Cadbury Easter Express Train 93g (Text: “Happy Easter Express Train”, front of package) The Easter Egg Warehouse even goes so far as to offer Easter products with ‘Happy Easter’ in other languages than English: Asbach Brandy Filled Eggs without Crust (Text: “Frohe Ostern” clearly stated on front of package) NB Frohe Ostern = Happy Easter (my translation). It seems they also still use the word Easter on Easter products.

Next, you went on to claim that “it’s our national tradition to call them Easter eggs”. I was prepared initially to accept that it may be a national tradition in Britain to call an Easter egg an Easter egg, after all we are a logical people with a relatively good education system, but then it was pointed out to me that the word Easter was used extremely sparsely on Easter eggs from 1970 to 2000. Having checked that claim, I have to say that it is correct. So, while there may well be a long oral tradition of calling an Easter egg an Easter egg it does not appear to be a tradition adopted by the manufacturing fraternity. As yet, you have not chosen to (or been able to) provide me with any evidence of this manufacturing ‘tradition’. As to your assertion that “the topic has run its course”, I beg to inform you that it’s not you who decides on such matters. We live in a democracy, which gives us freedom of speech (and, FYI, even religion). The topic will have “run its course when the last person who wishes to contribute to the discussion has done so. And who knows, perhaps a member will reopen it next Easter.

Lesmes/Les Reid (to whom shall I address my reply?) Nobody is disputing or correcting your choice of words. I understood perfectly what you were referring to: a post on Facebook which made reference to a report that “the Australian senate [having] discussed the missed word EASTER on Easter eggs sold across Australia”. You have no need to feel that you “stand corrected”. I do not use Facebook, so I politely requested from you a link to that report (BTW, I haven’t as yet received it). It sounds to me that you view this discussion as some sort of ‘fight’ with talk of “winners” and “happy endings”. I view it only as a discussion. When all is said and done, this is a discussion forum and if you choose to initiate a discussion by introducing a new topic then you must be aware that other people may join in the discussion. You should also be aware that others may not share your views and that the content of your post may well be subject to scrutiny and even opposition. However, you have the same rights of scrutiny and opposition should you care to use them. The topic you posted is not only interesting and – as I’m sure you’ve now discovered – even controversial. Never the less it is one which SHOULD be taken up and aired because it’s not really about Easter eggs, is it. It’s about ethnic minorities, something which Rosco cottoned on to immediately. Rosco also had the b@lls to honestly express his personal opinion on the subject. OK, Rosco didn’t answer your question as to who had removed the word but he’d clearly ‘noticed’ and equally clearly agreed that the word Easter had been removed and even offered an explanation as to why. I, on the other hand, hadn’t ’noticed’, despite having looked at numerous Easter egg displays the previous week and having just ordered a selection of Easter eggs on line. I couldn’t therefore agree with your hypothesis that the word ‘Easter’ had been removed from “our” – or indeed anybody else’s – Easter eggs. I also had the necessary metaphoric b@lls to say so. That has clearly perturbed you. That was not my intention. Further support for my opposition to your hypothesis came from Steve Turnbull, who also had seen the word Easter on Cadbury eggs, Vic Patterson, found one (Cadbury’s) in Canada and Moe found one in Morrison’s – presumably somewhere in the North East of England – so, I still maintain that the word has not been removed. However, I’m open-minded and can be persuaded otherwise if you can discredit the evidence I’ve offered or at least come up with some evidence to the contrary.

Seen it now. Big like!

Keep on ruffling feathers, Malcolm! Oh man, I know the feeling!

I’m very sorry to hear that your last word on this topic was on Facebook and not here. It was, after all, here – on this forum that you posed your 'question'. I’ve searched the Internet at length today trying to find the report you mention – without success I might add. I would like to read it, however and I’m sure you will provide me with a link (Should you not wish to post it here then you can mail it to me. My e-mail address is on my profile. Many thanks in advance. I look forward to reading it) My search today revealed old reports from March 2016 (yes, it was being discussed in Aussie way back then). However, it wasn’t being discussed in the Senate but in an on-line debate sparked off by Federal MP Chris Kelly. Mr. Kelly spoke of how he "read an overseas article about manufacturers in the UK stripping the word Easter off their packaging to avoid offending non-Christians […] by deleting the word Easter, they believe that this will make their products more attractive to a wider audience and thus increase sales.” Cadburys Australia replied to this, stating that “the word Easter isn’t banned from egg packaging […] Easter is still stated on our Easter eggs on the back of the pack.” My comment: That’s probably only when it’s not splattered all over the front. Cadbury Australia continues “ Most of our Easter eggs don’t say Easter or egg on the front because it’s very obvious through the packaging that it is an Easter egg, re-emphasised by their seasonal availability.” http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/eat/federal-mp-questions-why-manufacturers-take-easter-out-of-their-chocolate-egg-packaging/news-story/02f735e77303dfc13cffc39909de3fa8 The big debate this year (6 January) seems to have concerned the early arrival of “Easter eggs” (and Hot Cross Buns). Not a mention of the packaging but with or without the word Easter some of the good people ‘down-under’ (I suspect the majority), seem to be able to recognize an Easter egg and refer to it as such. And then of course, there’s the long-ongoing discussion about palm oil in chocolate but that’s not just in Australia. I’m sure you’ve read about it too. I think the ‘debate’ is nicely summed up on another Australian site: Junkee.com, when they say “Like many religious holidays, Easter in Australia is heavy on traditions – day drinking, barely tolerating extended family, stuffing yourself so full of cheap off-brand chocolate it feels like you’re about to die. In recent years, though, Easter and Christmas have developed an exciting new tradition: people freaking out about the non-existent threat of political correctness. […] every religious holiday now comes with its own ready-made storm in a teacup, courtesy of people who seemingly never heard of the myriad more important problems the world is facing at the moment.” Not a mention of religion anywhere. If it hadn’t been for the word ‘Australia’ I would have sworn that he was talking about Britain!

Make your mind up, lesmes/Les Reid. (One person/two accounts?) If I understood you correctly your initial hypothesis was that only a couple of chocolate firms use the word ‘Easter’ on the Easter eggs they produce this year. Now it’s the missing Easter word on ALL the eggs etc. Either way, it’s a pretty sweeping statement. As Merc and I have pointed out, there are plenty of Easter products about bearing the word Easter and as my Muslim friend has pointed out, it doesn’t seem to have been much of a tradition anyway. My order arrived today and it included - from Cadburys: Dairy Milk Happy Easter Bar 850g (Text: “Happy Easter”, front of packaging). ₤10 Creme Egg Easter Egg 138g, Peter rabbit edition.(Text: “Contains 1 Easter egg”, front of packaging). ₤3. 49 Peter Rabbit Toy & Easter Egg (Text: “Peter Rabbit Toy & Easter egg”, front of packaging). ₤6,99 Cadbury Egg Hunt Pack 342g (Text: ”Easter Egg Hunt Super Pack”, Front of packaging ). ₤6.99 … and, from the Chocolate Trading Company: Prestat, Pink popping prosecco Easter egg with truffles 170g (Text: “ Pink Popping Prosecco Easter Egg”, front of packaging). ₤16.95 Prestat, Hot cross bun, milk chocolate Easter egg 170g (Text: “Hot Cross bun Spiced Easter Egg”, front of packaging). ₤16.95 As some of us have said, there's no shortage of the word Easter, but feel free to prove me wrong.

Easter.jpg not available to me.

lesmes, having started this topic, has been noticeable in the debate only by his absence (has anybody noticed?). But, should he wish to support and defend his opening statement with a few facts, then I for one would welcome his return.

Give me one good reason why! Of course, that should read 2018

I don't remember Chockie. In fact, I don't remember them serving any meals. The darts 'friendlys' were usually mid-week, afternoon so maybe they only served meals at the w/e. Having said that, I don't recognise the inside of the pub from the pictures. Was there a small room with a dartboard and a serving hatch through to the bar? It wasn't too bad decor-wise. The door was off a corridor leading through to the loos (which didn't need a key and toilet rolls were in situ). However, that's about the only good thing I can say about them. There was rising damp in all the walls up to knee level and they were freezing even in the summer.

Chocolate tea-pots aren't much use either.

Oh happy days! Child bride and JoJo I certainly can remember! I've been having second thoughts about Billy the goat though. Maybe he was called Benny. Can you throw any light on the matter?

Good lad! I see you've done your revision homework.

Fair amount on offer on Internet as well. The point being made by my friend is that , in the unlikely event that the word 'Easter' has been removed to favour the sale of eggs to ethnic minorities, no 'tradition' has been destroyed. He's eaten chocolate Easter eggs for at least 40 years. His children and grandchildren eat them now but not because they are celebrating Easter. They just like chocolate. It's a bit like me with mince pies. I bake and eat them all year round, but not because I'm a religious Christmas fanatic. I just like mince pies.

Yesterday I received an e-mail from a chocolate-loving, ‘ethnic minority’ member of this forum. He enclosed the following link and wonders what all the fuss is about. http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/pics/galleries/oldeastereggs/42/ Have a look at it because having read it, I have to ask the same question. Does Britain have a ‘tradition’ of having ‘Easter egg written on Easter eggs’ or is it another case of the mountain and the molehill? 100 vintage Easter eggs from the 1970s, 80s and 90s are shown. Of these only 6 have the words ‘Easter egg’ on the packaging: Weekend in 1970, Caramac in 1970 and 1972, Tooty Frooties in 1970 and 72, and Quality Street in 1976. The remainder state simply Milk Chocolate egg (63 )‘Chocolate egg’ (6), Plain Chocolate egg (2), filled egg (3), Candy egg (1), Milk Chocolate Cream egg (4) Giant egg (1), Medium egg (2), Small egg (1), mug egg (1 ), and 10 don’t bother to state that it’s an egg at all, placing all their faith in the buyer’s ability to recognize one when they see one. The ‘tradition’, if there ever was one, seems to have died out long ago. The only other references to ‘Easter’ on the packaging were 9 in number and these came from: Dairy Box, who wished us a Happy Easter in 1970, 1984 and 1987 when they were joined by Rowntree’s Fruit Gums and Rowntrees Fruit Pastilles. Quality Street sent us Easter Greetings in 1970 and again in 1987. Smarties mentioned the Easter bunny way back in 1976 and KitKat encouraged us to take an Easter break in 1987. Six ‘Easter’ eggs and 9 ‘Easter’ greetings among 100 eggs, over a period of 30 years, doesn’t sound like much of a ‘tradition’ now does it? Does the wording 'Easter egg' actually have to be on the individual egg packaging? I must admit that I wasn't looking at the packaging in the UK. I didn't need to. 'Easter eggs' in foot high letters was on every display but even if it hadn't been I'd have recognized them as just 'Easter' eggs. It requires only simple powers of deduction - it's almost Easter and they are egg-shaped. Keep calling them Easter eggs by all means, that's what they are, but if the maker wants to call them 'Milk Chocolate Eggs' (in full accordance with the Trades Description Act of 1968) then he's perfectly entitled to do so.

If in doubt then 'colouring' does the same job!

Thanks for the info on Laveroch Hall Road, Vic. That must have been a devil of a job tying gorse flowers onto the egg. We used to boil the eggs in a pan full of the flowers .- same method as with onion skins.

Thanks Eggy! I owe you one! I've got my bearings now, when I see it in relation to Nelson Village. I remember the Albion well. Jim & Betty used to keep a goat in the back garden. He liked a small loaf of Hovis brown bread every day and he answered to 'Billy' would you believe.

The wax candle is another method of decorating I remember. Can you remeber what sort of leaves you used, Vic? Egg japping brings back some memories too. I never liked it because I always managed to get hit on the fingers. So much for my japping technique! All information on Shankhouse welcome. I'm not sure I know where the Laverock Hall Road is either. The Three Horse Shoes I'm familiar with. I used to play darts at a pub (I use the word loosely) just past there - The Folly. Albion Inn was its real name I think. Would that be anywhere near Shankhouse?

Thanks Les! I've heard the name Shankhouse (or Shankhouses) somewhere in my past but I don't think I've ever seen a signpost or anything when driving around. My mother always said Cramlington so I was surprised when I got a birth certificate last month and the adress was given simply as "Shankhouse" - no street name, just Shankhouse. I haven't had time to look into it yet but I'm intending to do so soon.

I think most people with an ounce of common sense can recognize an Easter egg when they see one. Clearly 'barnsley tyke' doesn't belong to that group. Easter eggs usually arrive in the shops in good time for Easter and disappear shortly after.They are often decorated with Easter-related pictures: chickens, bunnies etc..Do they really need the words 'Easter' and 'egg' in order to be able to identify it? It doesn't say 'fish' on a haddock but it's still a fish and easily identifiable. It doesn't say 'toilet paper' on a toilet roll but it's still toilet paper and easily identifiable. The first post on this thread asks the question "Who took the Easter out of our Easter eggs?" How does lesmes know it's an Easter egg that's had the word removed if they are no longer identifiable? Simple! It looks like an Easter egg, it smells like an Easter egg, it's decorated like an Easter egg and the words 'Happy Easter' are staring us in the face everywhere we go. How many clues do we need?