Ladybugs have always fascinated me and I have always gone out of my way to protect them and keep them safe. But, until I read an article I just found, I never knew that ladybugs also came in yellows, orange, grey, black, even blue.
During the Middle Ages, swarms of pests were destroying crops, so farmers prayed to the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, for help. Soon after, ladybugs came and ate the bad pests and saved the crops. The farmers called these bugs, “Beetles of Our Lady” and they eventually became known as “ladybugs”.
In many countries, ladybugs are considered to be good luck. Just like the four-leaf clover and the horseshoe, the ladybug is thought to bring good luck to people. I am sure that this is because of how the ladybugs are always saving crops from bad pests. So, to the farmers especially, ladybugs, are definitely good luck!
You can read more about this little creature and see a really cute website where I found this information. You will love the link that tells you how ladybugs can be used to help your kids learn math. Go here: http://www.elysiumgates.com/~mamawolf/facts.html
And for more ladybug fun you must see our ball toys page called Bouncy Buddies. These are stuffed toy animals that have a hard ball sewn into their bellies and can be bounced and thrown around. His name is Tweedle! How cute is that?
Visit our website and see our pink pig, Wilber, or Milton – a black and white cow and Taffy, a cat.
Yes, Easter Bells are rung in France and Italy throughout the year but they are not rung on the Thursday before good Friday. They are silent as way to remember the death of Jesus. They are then rung on Easter Sunday as way of telling people Jesus is alive again.
Flying Bells
Cloche volant or Flying Bells are another important part of the Easter traditions of France. French Catholics believe that on Good Friday, all the church bells in France fly to the Vatican in Rome, carrying with them the misery and grief of those who mourn Jesus’ crucifixion on that day. These flying bells return on Easter Sunday morning and bring with them lots of chocolate and eggs. In keeping with the tradition, French church bells do not ring from Good Friday to Easter morning.
Thinking of Easter – if you want a cute bunny to add to your child’s Easter basket see our line of stuffed toy animals on our website.