I’m so exited to report about this quality time with my family as this tradition is one of my favourites. I’ve done this as long as I can remember – the Easter Egg Hunting. The first time, my father gave me a ride in his back bag for the egg hunt in the forest. Most of you might think of Easter Eggs as something you decorate. We did that of course as well, but this tradition is about hunting them. Not ordinary hen egg, but egg laid by Easter Hare in the forest. Do I believe it is possible? – Well of course, I’ve seen it done on this Holiday for decades! We actually never saw the bunny, but my parents told me they did it, so then it has to be true, and it has never been quested in the family. It’s just the same as Santa brings the gifts of course. People who don’t believe in this have missed out something important from their childhood I think. I’ll start with the picture of the hunting trophies. Then you’ll have the story.
The Easter Egg Hunters
Thinking of the preparation brings a lot of lovely memories from when I grew up. Spring is in the air. The nature is waking up and you can almost smell it when you go out in the forest. There might be some snow left, but you also see the first spring flowers peeking up from the leaves on the ground. Mom is making cacao and packing the back bags with thermos, hot dogs and rolls. This was also the time to bring our forest knife – I got my first one when I was 6 – and to make tree bark flute, bows and arrows and other fun things. It was also useful to make sticks for cooking the hot dogs on the fire of course. I remember I felt free, alive and very much a part of the nature and the elements. But back to the hunting:
Hunting the Easter Eggs
We have used the same spot by the sea for ages 20 minutes walk from the parking spot and my father is always the one who comes first as we are looking at the nature waking up in all its details on our way. We never asked why dad was there first as the “obvious” reason was that he had to find the best spot and start the fire 
But as soon as we got there, the hunting began. Dad always gave some hints and said he might have seen the Easter bunny in this or that direction. The excitements, the struggle in climbing and the adventure while hunting was fun – and still is! Just look at the pics (click on them to enlarge) and you see what I mean.
The egg and my sister
The hare has hidden them quite well, but one after another they are found and the hunter is shouting out: “I’ve found my egg”. My sister’s and my egg’s are the same ones we used as children and always filled up with sweets by my mom. This event is full of rituals and traditions you know!
At the open fire
After the hunting we are exhausted and hungry and the next exiting episode can start: Cooking the hot dogs over the open fire. The last couple of years my sister has made a type of dough to wrap around the hot dogs. When the hot dogs are cooked, the dough bakes into a delicious roll. Sitting around the fire, we share stories and sing songs as we eat and drink the hot cacao. If that isn’t quality time and wonderful family tradition, what is?
The sign of spring!
I told you about the nature waking up as well: here you see the most significant sign of spring in Norway – the ‘blåveis’ (hepatica). This blog is about the four seasons in Norway. I now declare the spring time is finally here! Thanks to the long, cold and snowy winter, we appreciate it a lot, you know.
What was in my egg
Haven’t heard about the Easter Bunny Egg, well here is the mythology: Eostre found a wounded bird in the snow. To help the little bird survive the winter, she transformed it into a rabbit, but the transformation was incomplete and the rabbit retained the ability to lay eggs. In thanks for its life being saved, the rabbit took the eggs and decorated them and left them as gifts for Eostre. Read more about it by clicking here.
April 17th, 2006 at 2:57 am
This is so COOL! Do people all over Norway celebrate Easter this way? I am 1/2 Norwegian, but I have never heard much about the way Norwegians celebrate Easter. My family come from Telemark (around Ulefoss) and from the Sogn Fjord area. Please e-mail me more information about your family. Maybe we are related! By the way, your queen, Sonja, is my (deceased) father’s 5th cousin!
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April 17th, 2006 at 3:09 am
You’re right – your Easter Egg Hunt was very different. To tell the truth, I think I would have enjoyed yours more… I was ready to tear my hair out at the end of our hunt.
Happy Easter!
Jo
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April 17th, 2006 at 5:44 am
Yehey! The snow has finally gone!
It seems fun hunting easter eggs especially when you are with your family. Back in my country (The Philippines), families in the whole Holy Week (including Easter Sunday are either at home celebrating Jesus or somewhere for a vacation (The Beach, etc.) celebrating Life.
My family would always stay at home and play Mah-Jong.
I’ll look forward for your Spring!
PS. Why not eat the eggs after?
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April 17th, 2006 at 5:50 am
sounds like a wonderful tradition! loved your story thanks so much for sharing!
Lisa
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April 17th, 2006 at 6:20 am
That’s a lot more involved than just hiding a few chocolate eggs! Thanks for sharing. I have linked to it at Bruggie Tales after the description of our family’s hunt.
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April 17th, 2006 at 7:31 pm
Hello Renny! I am still in Fredrikstad with Odd and his family. They are very nice. I will update my blog when I come back soon on Wednesday in Bergen. It was a little sad that Anna cant meet me here due to pressing matters!
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April 17th, 2006 at 7:47 pm
Yours was the most amazing easter egg hunt I’ve ever read! The fact that not just the children but the whole family’s involved, that’s what made it fun! And there’s even hotdog roasting on fire…really nice.
Thank you for another good read, have a fine week!
regards from Holland.
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April 17th, 2006 at 10:01 pm
@Barbara: Thanks for you’re question because then I can tell you that half of the Norwegians run to the mountains at Easter Holiday to get the last taste of snow and winter. Peculiar if you ask me, since we have had 5 month of winter, but then again the Norwegians are born with skis on you know:-). I’ve sent you a note to give you more personal information.
@Jo: Yes the forest hunting is much more fun, also for the childen
@Aceian: Thanks for keeping me posted and I’ll keep you as the Spring is coming you know. We did eat the egg too, but hot dogs on an open fire is an important part of Norwegian picknick rituals:-)
@Lisa: You’re welcome – I’m glad you liked it and hope you’ve had a nice Easter Holiday too.
@Davidus: You know I feel honored to be listed in a great blog like yourse. I do recomand a visit for all my readers too!
@Chas: I’m so glad to hear you are having a great time with Odd – you really deserves that. I’m sorry to hear you could not meet with Anna but hope you soon will get the chance. When you do, please don’t forgett to give both of you a big hug from me!
@Thess: Thanks for the compliments – you really got the spririt of my post. And you have a blog too? Please mail me the address so that I can visit Holland:-)
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April 18th, 2006 at 7:57 am
Hello Renny again. Yes I do have a blog but I’m afraid it’s not as interesting as yours as I do not write properly, and sometimes it’s even written in my mother tongue, tagalog (I’m from the Philippines living in Holland)..
but thank you for asking, this time I left my URL, just please click my name.
Have a fine day!
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April 18th, 2006 at 10:37 am
It is nice to look at all those happy faces and see that everybody is joining the fun!
I remember we had some egg hunting in Belgium too when I was a kid but it was only in the garden. This is really quite an expedition! Thanks for sharing !
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April 18th, 2006 at 4:07 pm
Very neat tradition, Renny! It spans the age groups of life to be sure and it is purely wholesome. I like that it gets the family out into the natural elements and bonding through a communal activity instead of just focusing on the getting and eating of chocolate! (Too commercial and I’m diabetic!!)
The hot dog biscuit thing reminds me of years at summer camp in Ontario where we made “doughboys”…the dough wrapped around a stick, we cooked it over a campfire, and when it was done just right, we took it off and filled it with strawberry jam. Perfection!
Yours is a tradition of great worth! Hope it gets passed on down through your family forever!
Ruth
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April 18th, 2006 at 8:34 pm
That reminds me of my family back home:) Here now in De,it’s my mom n law organizing an easter surprise for us.We(kid,hubby,&me) usually get each a plate of chocolate eggs & hundred of euros. It’s a very neat tradition & I usually feel like an 8 yrs old li’l girl at this time of the year:D
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April 19th, 2006 at 10:55 am
I never had this type of experience. It seems both the adults and the children enjoyed it very well.
You really had a very nice easter Renny!
Have a wonderful week ahead!
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April 19th, 2006 at 10:26 pm
I havent tried easter egg hunting actually! Anyways, I am back now from Fredrikstad!
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April 20th, 2006 at 12:47 am
ohh this is cool! Everyone I asked about why the bunny lay eggs on Easter can never answer me! haa! thank you for sharing this. added you to my huggies links btw ^_^
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April 20th, 2006 at 3:44 am
may i have some candies??? *drools*
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April 20th, 2006 at 6:26 am
Hey.
I got an easter egg too, but I didn’t need to go look for it:P
I came here by clicking on a link my mom has..
Seems like u really had a good time
And that history thingy of the easter bunny was really interesting;)
Well, hope u had a good easter!
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April 20th, 2006 at 6:31 am
easter egg hunting is really fun, we also do that here in Philippines, normally chicken eggs are decorated or painted. there are also some plastic egg with cool stuff.
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April 20th, 2006 at 10:58 am
Im impressed by the way your parents has instilled a solid family tradition. It´s a nice thing that kids can grow up with..whether or not bunnies really laid those eggs, then again, the dinosaurs did
so it must have rooted from there, i cant explain the Santa phenomenon though, will check the paleozoic era section 
belated happy easter, and thanks for dropping by youre always welcome there !!!
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April 20th, 2006 at 8:01 pm
Hi renny, thanks for droping by, I had added you on the list anyway, well about the easter, well in the (Philippines) yeah i agreed with Ace, it was a festive of semana santa. the feast of christ, but some are on thier vacation coz today april, may are summer in the philippines. despite the fact that i am here now in madrid.. have fun. thanks again for droppping by! anyway. i like hunting. can i join you guys next time!
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April 20th, 2006 at 10:18 pm
To everyone: I am overwhelmed about you’re interest and so glad I could share my important family tradition with you. Thank you for sharing you’re thoughts and ideas as I learn a lot from you’re comments. That is one of the reasons for my posts and by sharing; I feel I have gained a lot!
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@Thess: Thanks for sharing – I find you’re blog interesting.
@Sidney: Easter egg hunting can take place wherever as long as the children have fun you know
@MotherOfInvetion: Yes, I do appreciate that commercials hasn’t reached my childhoods spots yet. You’re “Doughboys” sounds delicious – I have to try it next year, but hard to skip the hotdogs you know
@Cheh: I’m glad my post brought up some good old family traditions to you:-)
@Al: The more childish the adults gets, the more fun there is you know. I wish you and you’re family a great end to you’re week!
@Chas: Try next year! And welcome back from Fredrikstad and please keep us posted!
@Irvine: Glad I could solve the mystery for you. Thanks – I feel honoured since you have added me to you’re huggies links!
@LetterShredder: But of course you can – there are still some left if you come over:-)
@Angle-Jane: Thank you for stopping by. The fun about the Easter Eggs is the hunt you know. Ask you’re mom if the bunny will hide them next year!
@Cruise: Glad to hear it goes all around the world. Maybe we can build a world wide Easter hunt reunion
@Jing: I do agree and actually I think it is even more fun now as an adult. Please keep me posted if you find the Santa phenomena!
@Neil.dc: Thank you for listing me as well – I feel honoured! I recommend others to visit yours too. I know, a lot of Norwegians go to the Philippines to have a summer break in our winter time. I’m sure if me and my family did one day, we would have found our Easter Eggs there too:-) You are welcome to come and hunt with us next time Neil!
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April 21st, 2006 at 10:37 pm
welcome back
glad ur back and wow ! super cool egg hunting.
be back by next friday
i’ll visit my aunt in ny . God bless
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April 22nd, 2006 at 11:30 am
By the way, did you use your mobile phone’s camera on this one as well! Coz it’s brilliant!
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April 22nd, 2006 at 12:54 pm
@LWS: Thank you and glad you liked the hunt. Have a great trip to NY – take care and keep us posted:-)
@Chas: Good question: yes, for all the pics except for the first pic: “The Easter Egg Hunters” where I used my Nikon CoolPix S2 Camera. I should have menchened it becourse that is getting a kind of trade mark for my blog
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April 23rd, 2006 at 3:13 pm
Wonderful stuff, Rennya! Sounds like you all have the right formula, togetherness in nature.
For all of us living in northern climes, Spring & Easter are wonderful – dramatic reminders of how beautiful it is to enjoy living in the moment, and to be renewed.
Peace, Bud
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April 23rd, 2006 at 8:18 pm
hey renny great story been too busy with work was in st tropez.
HAPPY SPRING miss reading your posts
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April 23rd, 2006 at 8:42 pm
That’s cool at least my work now is almost done so I can resume in finishing your blog.
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April 25th, 2006 at 12:01 am
@Buddy: Yes Spring is wonderful and now it is here in Norway too!
@Sha: Happy Spring to you too… it’s in the air you know and I just love it!
@Chas: You know I can hardly wait – so to everyone: stay tuned becouse my Terella will soon be brand new
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April 26th, 2006 at 2:30 pm
No way! I didn’t know we had that tradition. It’s always seemed like a more American thing…
Never heard of any Norwegians having an Easter egg hunt before
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May 1st, 2006 at 1:17 pm
i grew up in a very rural area and we hunted for eggs also. traditionslike these always give you a beautiful nostalgia. i still look back on those days and smile.
and i love easter candy. for some reason it just makes me happy. must be the pastel colors.
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April 7th, 2007 at 5:48 pm
Great story and pictures about your Easter Egg hunt Renny!
LOL that Dad had to get there first ay? *wink**wink**nudge**nudge*
I did not now about the story of the Easter Bunny being able to lay eggs. Thanks for sharing!
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March 12th, 2008 at 2:12 am
Not only was this a great story, but you took me right back home to a very nice time in my life when I lived with my brother, sisters and mom and dad — all of us together in one house. (I write about it in my book too.) We decorated eggs as well, but yours are humungous and so colorful. I enlarged one of the pics to see and you’re right, they’re superb. The cold air is part of Easter here too, as the Spring has just begun. The hotdogs you speak of we call “pigs in a blanket.” Did you know? I’m laughing. What a funny name.
Thx so much for sharing this and the Easter story was a neat addition. p.s. i voted for you for best travel. You have others I can click and vote? Lemmeno.
*hugs* my friend.
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March 20th, 2008 at 12:02 am
[...] up memories for wild life fun (okay: outdoors then!) in our family. Soon it’s the traditional Easter Bunny Eggs Hunt (click to check my post from last year!). So stay tuned, but in the mean time let me ask you a question: [...]
April 12th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
[...] you’re welcome to read my posts from previous years – the same procedure as every year: 2006: The Easter Egg Hunt 2007: Bonfire at the Easter Egg Hunt 2008: Spring equinox and Easter egg hunt 2008: Hunting Easter [...]