THE MEANING OF EASTER...

Easter is a time of springtime festivals and celebration. For most of us,

Easter has become a social tradition that can be enjoyed by all. We hide

Easter eggs, watch parades, and gather around the Easter table with family

and friends.

In Christian countries, Easter is celebrated as the religious holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the son of God. This holiday has many symbols associated with it. Do you know where many of them originated from and why they are part of our Easter Celebration?

The cross, which is the most familiar and universal symbol of Christianity and the Crucifixion, is particularly associated with the Easter season. The cross is commonly seen in religious art, in the architectural details of churches, on the liturgical objects used during church services, and on altar cloths and clerical vestments. It also appears in floral displays specially designed for the Easter season and on Easter greeting cards.

Originally, Easter eggs were painted with bright colors to represent the sunlight of spring and were used in Easter-egg rolling contests or given as gifts. After they were colored and etched with various designs, the eggs were exchanged by lovers and romantic admirers, much the same as valentines.

With the advent of Christianity, the symbolism of the egg changed to represent, not nature's rebirth, but the rebirth of man. The egg is a symbol of Resurrection, representing the emergence of Christ from His tomb to everlasting life.

The egg is nature's perfect package! It is the universal symbol of Easter celebrations throughout the world and has been dyed, painted, adorned and embellished in the celebration of its special symbolism.

The Easter bunny has its origin in pre-Christian fertility lore. The Hare and the Rabbit were the most fertile animals known and they served as symbols of the new life during the Spring season.

How the rabbit became associated with Easter and Easter eggs is unclear, but it may have been intended to symbolize the fertile life that the risen Christ would send His followers. In any case, the Easter rabbit has had a long history in European folklore. The Easter lily has long been associated with spring and the Easter season. All gardeners know that the bulb of the lily must first shrivel and become death-like in appearance. But after planting, it grows to blossom at Easter time in a display of white glory. The analogy is obvious...from death comes life.

The lamb is a particularly important Easter symbol. It represents Jesus and relates His death to that of the lamb sacrificed on the first Passover. Christians traditionally refer to Jesus as "the Lamb of God".

John the Baptist calls Jesus "The Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29

Today's Easter bonnet is an endangered species as fewer and fewer are sighted every year! Dressing in all the "Easter finery" seems to be restricted to the very young or the very old and tends to be more prevalent in the deep South or large cities. Such a shame--we have so little to dress-up for anymore!

Easter is always celebrated on a Sunday, the day of Christ's Resurrection. The date may fall anywhere between March 22 and April 25, depending on calculations based of the lunar calendar.

Easter comes early this year--April 4th! Not much time to buy a hat, dye the eggs and plan your meal! No matter what you believe, what you eat, how you dress or what your celebration includes...have a wonderful day!,