Swinging on the Boughs

An important Easter ritual is the hanging of the swing, which was erected on the village outskirts or nearby forests.

According to archaic beliefs, swinging has magic powers and is connected with fertility to ensure an abundance of crops and healthy livestock for the coming year. It is vital that the swing is allowed to stop of its own will otherwise the harvest will fail.

The first to be swung were usually the master and mistress, followed by the children. In return for pushing the swing the girls would give the boys presents of beautiful Easter eggs they had made especially for the occasion.

• Victorian Albums
• Victorian Scraps
• Father Tuck's Complete Picture Maker

• Lace-Paper Valentines
• Comic Valentines

• Easter Frolics
• In Fairyland

• A Victorian Christmas
• A Christmas Menagerie

• The Calendar
• Reward of Merit
• The English Lotteries

• Victorian Greeting Card Publishers

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