Threads 21: The Egg Basket

Easter time, easter eggs, egg hunts and egg baskets. 

Is there a traditional Easter egg basket? Being a basket maker, I thought it would be interesting to investigate.

The legend of the Easter basket is believed to have come from the early medeval Catholics. At the end of Lent, they would bring baskets of goodies to the church to be blessed before the celebration of Easter. Other western cultures believe in leaving a basket of goodies at the foot of the stairs, to be found on Easter morning by children. The basket is believed to have been bought by the Easter bunny.

As I could not find a traditional Easter basket, I thought it would be interesting to look at a traditional egg basket. These were made for collecting eggs, and often made of wire. Presumably, they were very strong and hard wearing, and could be washed in the basket and then left to dry, before packing.

My son’s egg basket. When the handle is up the basket is closed.

I mentioned this to my son, and surprise, he and his wife were given one when they started keeping chickens. It was found in a thrift store, probably Boomerangs in Boston. The wire basket is made by wrapping thin wire around the thicker stakes. It is fully woven, just by bending and twisting the wires. There is no soldering of the wires. When the handles are down, the basket is open. When the handles are lifted up, the basket is closed.