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Come Easter Sunday, eager children wake up to see if the Easter Bunny has visited their homes. For many families, Easter would not be the same without an annual egg hunt. From chocolate confections to money-filled plastic shells to colorful, hand-decorated hard-boiled eggs, the Easter Bunny (and his parental helpers) hide eggs all around.
As with many traditions, people may engage in the festivities without really understanding the origins behind the fun. It can be interesting to unearth just how such egg hunts were hatched.
As with many religious traditions, Easter egg coloring and hunts trace their origins to pre-Christian societies. These societies developed rituals surrounding nature, the seasons and more.
Some traditions were adapted to link them to the Christian faith. Eggs held associations with new life and spring. However, early Christians turned the egg into a symbol of the Resurrection and the empty shell became a representation of Christ’s tomb. Eggs also were important components of the Easter holiday, as they were prohibited (like meat) during Lent. But on Easter, fasting ended and eggs were a part of Easter celebrations, particularly for the poor who couldn’t afford meat.
There are two widely known accounts of the origins of Easter egg hunts. The religious version has Protestant reformer Martin Luther organizing hunts for his congregation. The men would hide the eggs for women and children to find, which mirrors Resurrection accounts in the Bible in which women discovered Christ’s empty tomb.
Another account traces the tradition to the Dutch tale of the ‘Oschter Haws’ (‘Osterhase’ in German), which was a hare that laid eggs in the grass. Children would build and decorate nests for the eggs and wait to see if they would be populated, according to Discovery.com. This tradition became popular in America with the arrival of Dutch and German settlers in Pennsylvania in the 1700s.
By the 20th century, decorated Easter nests were replaced with baskets, and Osterhase was more affectionately known as the Easter Bunny, who chose to leave eggs as well as treats and candy. Easter celebrations continued to marry both the religious and secular to form many of the customs that are known widely today.
Easter egg hunts are enjoyed by the young and old on Easter. They’re a key part of celebrations. Just remember to find all those hard-boiled eggs in a timely fashion.
This year, Easter celebrants may want to experiment with different materials that are more forgiving and more enduring than standard eggs.
Wooden eggs
Families may find that wooden eggs are much more forgiving than standard eggs. Wooden eggs don’t have to be boiled, and they don’t need time to harden, and they’re quite maneuverable for young fingers.
Decorators can explore different ways to color wooden eggs. Acrylic paints are readily available and safe for users of any age. Wood stains or wood markers also can be used to give the eggs a natural finish. Others may want to rip small pieces of decorative paper to create a decoupage effect on their wooden eggs.
Sew soft eggs
Those who are handy with a needle and thread can explore patterns for making soft, stuffed eggs. Cozy fleece or other fabrics can be sewn together to make the egg shape.
Then the egg is filled with polyester filling, feathers or another soft material. Ribbons, buttons, trims, and other decorative touches can personalize the eggs and add a touch of whimsy. Check out www.sew4home.com for ideas on handmade Easter eggs.
Modeling clay
Children who love to get their hands dirty may enjoy making Easter eggs out of modeling materials. Colors can be blended together to create a marbleized effect. Depending on the clay medium, the eggs may air-harden or may need to be heated at a low temperature in the oven to fully cure.
Easter eggs are a fun tradition that adds to the festivity of spring. While traditional eggs can be used, many different, more long-lasting materials can be used as well.

East Baton Rouge Parish is Louisiana's most populated parish. U.S. 2020 Census estimates rank EBR in 1st place with 440,000 residents.

Jefferson Parish is next and then Orleans.

But in nearly four weeks, EBR is still being tested 75% less than Orleans, though the ratios of tests-to-positive cases are about the same.

In Orleans, Louisiana's COVID epicenter, 25% of those tested have the virus. In EBR, 17% test positive but the testing rate is only one-fourth that of Orleans.

In Caddo, the 2nd most tested parish, only 6% test positive. So why is the state's Capital City so far behind in testing

Louisiana has received funding for enhanced unemployment benefits under the federal CARES Act, and Gov. John Bel Edwards has ordered payments to begin Monday.

The extra benefit is $600 per week on top of the usual jobless benefit.

Edwards made the announcement at his daily coronavirus press conference Wednesday.

The recipients will include those are eligible for traditional unemployment benefits as well as contract workers, "gig workers" and others who do not usually qualify for unemployment benefits but who receive other benefits after recently passed legislation.

The governor urged people to apply for unemployment benefits as soon as possible. He suggested applying online at louisianaworks.net between 10 p.m and 4 a.m., when traffic on the system is relatively light.

Louisiana unemployment claims have skyrocketed since COVID-19 prevention measures began to close or reduce operations for many employers.

Edwards said the unemployment trust fund has paid $51.5 million over the last three weeks. In a typical week, the fund pays out about $2.3 million.

In the throes of the coronavirus outbreak virtually across the globe, local officials are at defense.
With their civic responsibilities as elected and appointed members of the community, that sometimes comes with the stresses of their work in balance of their personal lives and concerns for their families.
St. Mary Parish President David Hanagriff, a father of three boys, said there’s “a little bit of anxiety” about returning to the regular routine of schools.
“Are we going back?” he said of his sons’ worries.
He’s been the primary person to go out and acquire needed things for the household, while his wife manages the day-to-day presence of sons ranging from 9 to 19.
“I am still having to deal with this whole thing from a political level, as parish president,” he said. “Plus I still have to run my company at the same time. My biggest thing right now is juggling family at home and being parish president.”
He said the family often walks the track in Centerville, but “I do enough walking at work, but I am sucking it up.”
Beverly Domengeaux, St. Mary Council on Aging executive director, said the agency has been able to deliver meals to approved clients in the system. “They seem to be handling it pretty good,” she said. “We talk to them every other day on the phone and they’re comments are, ‘Why aren’t people listening?’ They’re in their homes, they’re doing everything they’re supposed to, and they just don’t understand why everybody else isn’t.”
Domengeaux said the community has been “excellent” in responding to the agency’s needs. “I’ve been able to take some shelf food out on the weekends to supplement the hot foods, and have some food in their house. We’re not doing any other in-home services because the governor did not classify them as essential,” she said sadly.
Still, her homemaker staff are calling their clients and we may have to run efforts for them, do a little shopping, find some things that they need.
“All in all, the senior population seems to be handling it a lot better. Like one man said, ‘We went through World War II, through the measles epidemic, through the polio epidemic, and we made it. So this is just another thing.”
Domengeaux said she’s had 17 of her seniors, the clients themselves, “calling to see how I was. My seniors calling me. That really made me feel good.
“Beverly’s hanging in. Just a little worried. I sat down with my finance committee and we’ve got it made.”
Of the local civic and industrial leaders surveyed, the whole and each of them came to the same conclusion, whether personally or publicly: Stay at home.
Franklin Mayor Eugene Foulcard referred to his particular public service announcement (available in this edition) for details concerning official guidelines and practices expected from the city during the statewide “stay at home” mandate.
But he also stated, “This is something the people of Franklin, our state, and our nation should take very seriously, because it is a very, very, dangerous and dreaded virus, and we have to take precautions. I’m so thankful that President Trump and Governor Edwards have issued these guidelines and mandates that they have, and we’ve (Franklin) followed suit. And these tough mitigation efforts should, and I’m hoping and praying, will start to flatten the (theoretical, virus effect matrix) curve.
“We haven’t started to see a flattening just yet, but I’m hopeful that it (the curve) will begin to flatten.”
Apart from his political obligations and views, Foulcard said this about his personal feelings of COVID-19, “It hits home on a personal level.
“It has affected me tremendously, to the degree that I worry endlessly with the thought of, God forbid, my wife, my kids, and my mother could be at risk.
“I love my mother to death, but I still take my precautions that I don’t transmit anything to her. She has been on a self-quarantine for the last two or three weeks now.
“And my siblings—my brothers and sisters, it (COVID-19) has changed the dynamics of how we interact.
“We do a lot of FaceTime, we do a lot of calling. But, of course we are used to interacting face to face. We are taking our precautions. I love my siblings to death, also, but we operate as if we are all ‘carriers’.”
Executive Director of the Port of West St. Mary David Allain said his personal and professional status as, “altered.”
He said his daily routine has been affected in that he and his office-mates have had to stay in compliance with mandates, and coordinate their arrival and departure times at the port office, that through social distancing they are abiding by the governor’s orders.
Baldwin Mayor Abel “Phil” Prejean said, “Baldwin is not in very good financial shape, and this thing has come down and at our expense. We will gauge the financial impact as we move forward.”
When asked about his personal circumstances through this pandemic, Prejean said, “I just recently had surgery. So, I’m recovering from that. I have been working from home as a lot of people around the country have done.
“I’m just doing it from my house.”
And so it goes for the responsible citizenry, at home and taking care, it so goes as well, for those who arrange our common veneer; always there, yet closer apart.
“You just have to take it one day at a time, and not over-think it,” Prejean said. “It’s quite simple: wash your hands, keep your distance from other people, and stay at home. We will get through this.”