Du Quoin, Elkville & Pinckneyville egg hunts
Easter egg hunts are being held this Saturday in Du Quoin, Elkville and Pinckneyville.
The 10 a.m. Du Quoin and Pinckneyville hunts are free. The 2 p.m. hunt in Elkville costs $2, and the proceeds support the work of the community's Helping Hands project.
Du Quoin Hunt
The Du Quoin Jaycees will host the annual Du Quoin Easter egg hunt at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds on Saturday, April 4 beginning at 10 a.m.
Children ages infant through 9 are invited to participate. The Easter bunny will be there. Sponsors are Preceptor Alpha Eta sorority, the Volunteer Foundation and the Du Quoin Jaycees.
The Jaycees will also sponsor the kids' fishing tournament on June 6. Registration starts at 8 a.m. and fishing runs from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Fishermen ages 4-12 are invited to participate. Trophies and prizes will be awarded.
For more information, contact Jim Dimitroff at 318-1629 or Nancy Lee at 571-4842.
Pinckneyville Hunt
The Pinckneyville Optimist Club will again sponsor the annual Easter egg hunt for youngsters, ages 2 through 8 at the Pinckneyville Fairgrounds southwest of the grandstand.
Parents and participants are reminded that the hunt will take place starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 4. Eager hunters will be searching for candy eggs, plastic eggs with candy and with money, and other surprises. Bicycles will also be given away to lucky youngsters for each age group. The hunting areas will be separated into three sections: one for ages 2 -- 3, one for ages 4 -- 5, and one for ages 6 - 8. This year the Easter bunny is expected to be present and available for pictures with the kids. Participants are encouraged to arrive early as the hunt will start exactly at 10 a.m.
Elkville Hunt
The Helping Hands community program of Elkville is sponsoring an Easter egg hunt at 2 p.m. at the Elkville Pavilion.
The cost is $2 and the money supports the Helping Hands organization community programs.
The Easter bunny, the Easter chicken and Mr. Egg will be on hand along with Elsa from the movie Frozen.
How Did the Easter Egg Hunt Get Started?
The tradition is to dye and paint chicken eggs, but today the tradition includes chocolate eggs, plastic eggs filled with candy, and just about any kind of egg - real, fake, decorated or edible can be found. Why eggs? In general, they are a traditional symbol of fertility, and rebirth. In Christian beliefs, they are a symbol of the resurrection of Christ. The practice originated in Mesopotamia during the early Christian era when eggs were stained red in memory of the blood shed from Christ at his crucifixion.
However, the practice of decorating eggshells pre-dates Christian traditions, going back to ancient Africa where 60,000 year old ostrich eggs have been found with engraved decoration. Adorned with gold and silver markings, such eggs were commonly placed in graves of the ancient Sumerians and Egyptians.
The Easter Bunny Doesn't Lay Eggs!
The Easter Bunny dates back to German Lutherans, for whom the Easter Hare played the role of a judge, determining whether children were good or disobedient at the start of the spring season.