The tradition of an annual Easter parade began in New York City in the mid-1800s when Society’s upper crust attended Easter services at various Fifth Avenue churches. After the service, they strolled along the avenue showing off their fashionable new dresses and hats hoping to make an impression upon the onlookers. Read more »
Easter Eggs
Although considered a religious holiday by many people, Easter holds a number of familiar customs that probably came from ancient pagan traditions. One such custom is the decorating of Easter eggs. Long considered a symbol of new life, the lowly egg was associated with ancient pagan festivals that celebrated spring. Read more »
Somewhere in time, Easter became associated with candy. Easter comes in second only to Halloween in the amount of candy sold, followed closely by Christmas and Valentine’s Day. Although well known for jelly beans and chocolate eggs, the true Easter candy success story is the Marshmallow Peep. Read more »
For people who attend church, the Easter sermon is quite possibly one of the most anticipated religious events of the year. This is the sermon that offers hope and peace to everyone who is a believer in a higher power, specifically Jesus Christ, the son of God. It is the story of how Jesus was crucified on the cross and then rose from the dead on the third day. Read more »
Holidays and Festivals
Holy Week
According to the Christian liturgical calendar, Holy Week begins Palm Sunday. During the week, solemn rites commemorate the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Special observances held throughout the week include scripture readings, prayer, and midnight vigil services. Most days of Holy Week hold a special observance. Here is a brief overview of those days. Read more »
Easter Candy
According to a number of sources, Easter runs a close second to Halloween for the amount of candy sold in the United States. The three main kinds of candy associated with Easter are chocolate eggs, jellybeans, and marshmallow Peeps. How did Easter become so candy-friendly? Read more »
Easter Symbols
Over the years, a number of symbols have attached themselves to the annual Easter celebration. This post is the first in a series explaining the various symbols and how the symbols came into being. This series will include the Easter bunny, Easter eggs, Easter candy, and the Easter parade. Read more »
Every year Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and is the main celebration feast of the Christian year. The New Testament tells us that Jesus was crucified on Passover Eve. Three days later, He rose from the dead. Read more »
Easter Bunny - From the Beginning
The history of the Easter Bunny goes back many centuries and is tied to a pagan legend. It is said that the Goddess of Spring, Ostara, was late bringing spring one year. When she found that a little bird’s wings had frozen in her absence, she felt really bad about it. She decided to save its life and made it her pet. Since it could no longer fly, Ostara turned the bird into a snow hare named Lepus. She gave Lepus the ability to run so very fast that he would be able to out run the hunters. This was the beginning of the Easter Bunny. Read more »
Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and is Christianity’s most important holiday. The celebration is called a moveable feast because it does not fall on the same date every year like most holidays.
Although it is unknown how the holiday obtained its name, some believe the word Easter is derived form Eostre, a Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility. Others trace the name back to the Latin term hebdomada alba, or white week, an ancient reference to the white clothing worn by people who were baptized during Easter week. Read more »
