0630 ROMANIA (Suceava) - Painted eggs from Moldoviţa

Easter is the most important Christian feast, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion at Calvary. First Council of Nicaea in 325 established that the "Easter is in the first Sunday after the first full moon which falls on or after the vernal equinox." However, primarily due to the used calendar (but also due to the different algorithms used), Orthodox Christians on the one hand and the Catholics and Protestants on the other, usually celebrate Easter on different days. This year the Catholics and the Protestants have celebrated Easter on March 31, and the Orthodox celebrate it today, on May 5. I'm Romanian, and as most Romanians I'm Orthodox, so today I celebrate the Easter, and this postcard seems to me most appropriate for today.

One of the most important Christian traditional custom on Easter in Romania (but not only) is to break eggs (usually chicken eggs) dyed red, two by two. The egg symbolize the empty tomb of Jesus, is therefore a symbol of the Resurrection, and the red color is related to a legend which tells that Mary had come to mourn his crucified son and placed a basket with eggs near the cross and they were reddened from the blood which dripped from the wounds of Jesus. According to tradition, to the Easter meal every one chooses one red egg and hits the other's egg. The one who hits says "Christ has risen" and the other responds "Truly He has risen." In fact this is the salute used by the Christians on the three days of Easter.

Over time, the painting of the eggs became more and more complex, especially in Eastern and Central Europe, turning first in a craft, and then, in modern times, even in an art. In Romania, especially in northern Moldavia and Transylvania, the tradition of decorating eggs is a very dear custom. One of the best known Romanian artists in this field is Lucia Condrea, member of the Artistic Union of Romania, who exposed her creations in over one hundred exhibitions all around the world and has her own museum of painted eggs in Moldoviţa, Bukovina.  For me this postcard with eggs from this museum is even more precious, since it was sent by the author of the photo, Marius Vasiliu.

About the stamp
The stamp is part of the first set of the series Flowers’ Clock I, issued on January 25, 2013, which combines the image of a flower with an exhibit from the Nicolae Simache Clock Museum in Ploieşti.

• Field Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), which blooming hour is 5 a.m., indicated by a mantel clock, manufactured in France, in the 19th century (0.60 RON) - It's on the postcard 1480
• Common Chicory (Cichorium intybus) which blooming hour is 6 a.m, indicated by a carriage clock, manufactured in Austria, in the early 19th century (0.80 RON) - It's on the postcard 2585
• Viper’s Grass (Scorzonera rosea) which blooming hour is 7 a.m., indicated by a table clock, manufactured in Paris, in the late 19th century (1.00 RON) - It's on the postcard 0630
• Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris), which blooming hour is 8 a.m., indicated by a Neuchatele W.& A. Schmid-Schenker table clock, manufactured in Germany, in the first half of 20th century (1.60 RON) - It's on the postcard 2158
• Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) which blooming hour is 9 a.m., indicated by a P. Bonnet & P. Pottier portico clock, manufactured in Paris, in the late 19th century (2.40 RON)
• Bird’s-eye Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys) which blooming hour is 10 a.m., indicated by a Boulle table clock case, manufactured in France, in the 19th century (5.00 RON)

On June 21, 2013, was issued Flowers' Clock II:
• Anthericum ramosum (Anthericum ramosum), which blooming hour is 3 p.m., indicated by a table clock, Japy Frères, Beaucourt, 1823-1849 (0.50 RON) - It's on the postcard 1480
• Marvel of Peru (Mirabilis jalapa), which blooming hour is 5 p.m., indicated by a table clock, Kienzle, Germany, 19th century (which belonged to historian Nicolae Iorga) (1.20 RON) - It's on the postcard 0878
• Jimson weed (Datura stramonium), which blooming hour is 6 p.m., indicated by indicated by a pocket watch, Jacquemarts type, with repetition, Robert et Courvoisier, Geneva, 1790-1800 (1.40 RON) - It's on the postcard 1847
• White campion (Silene latifolia Poir), which blooming hour is 7 p.m., indicated by a traveller’s clock with alarm and repetition, Austria, early 19th century (3.00 RON)
• Winged Tobacco (Nicotiana alata), which blooming hour is 8 p.m., indicated by a chimney clock, anonymous factory, Paris, 19th century (3.10 RON)
• Common evening primrose (Oenothera biennis), which blooming hour is 9 p.m., indicated by a miniature table clock, France, 19th century (4.70 RON)

Sender: Marius Vasiliu (direct swap)
Sent from Gura Humorului (Suceava / Romania), on 29.04.2013
Photo: Marius Vasiliu