When Mr. G. and I gather with family and friends during holidays I find it interesting that many children (and some adults) when asked why we are gathered to celebrate often respond with "to get presents", "it's a family traditon", very seldom especially from a child do you get a response close to why we are celebrating. I am always excited when someone brings up a fact that I had not thought of or known before.
So, as you sit around the dinner table this Easter, take a few minutes to ask others why you have gathered. Here are some interesting points you can add to their response;
Pre-Christian Easter
Easter thought to originally have been named after "Eostre", the Great Mother Goddess of the Saxon people in Northern Europe, she was the Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility, to whom April was dedicated. Her name derives from "Eastre" which is the ancient word for spring. The festival was celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox. Traditions associated with the festival have survived the passage of time:
Easter rabbit, a symbol of fertility;
colored Easter eggs, originally painted with bright colors to represent the sunlight of spring:
Current Christian Easter:
Easter is the annual festival commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the principal feast of the Christian year. It is celebrated on a Sunday on varying dates between March 22 and April 25 and is therefore called a movable feast.
The legend is told that when the Virgin Mary’s tomb was visited three days after her burial, it was found empty save for bunches of majestic white lilies. Early writers and artists made the lily the emblem of the Annunciation, the Resurrection of the Virgin: the pure white petals signifying her spotless body and the golden anthers her soul glowing with heavenly light.…
1 Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead...
see Blog Hop tab for various linking parties
Pre-Christian Easter
Easter thought to originally have been named after "Eostre", the Great Mother Goddess of the Saxon people in Northern Europe, she was the Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility, to whom April was dedicated. Her name derives from "Eastre" which is the ancient word for spring. The festival was celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox. Traditions associated with the festival have survived the passage of time:
Easter rabbit, a symbol of fertility;
Current Christian Easter:
Easter is the annual festival commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the principal feast of the Christian year. It is celebrated on a Sunday on varying dates between March 22 and April 25 and is therefore called a movable feast.
1 Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead...
HAPPY EASTER from our home to yours!!
see Blog Hop tab for various linking parties
this is really interesting...I never knew that about rabbits or even eggs...and how they got into the celebration of Easter. Happy Easter
ReplyDeleteMy sweet and precious Celia,
ReplyDeleteThere is so much joy in my soul at this moment, to see that we can connect through this tool of the internet....one day, it will be gone. But the love that has been shared will ring in eternity, and I thank you for your kindness and insight that you have shared here....let us celebrate the souls that we are....SAVED through AMAZING GRACE...and thank you dearest one, for the lovely card...how truly beautiful!!! Anita
Hoppy Easter!
ReplyDeleteI look forward to having extra time off from work :)
Happy Easter! We always celebrate by attending Mass and then gathering with family to celebrate the holy day.
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter Celia,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the history lesson. Will be great to share with my kids!
Enjoy!
Barb
I never knew this. Great post my dear!
ReplyDeletexo
Dearest Celia,
ReplyDeleteVery meaningful post! Thanks for digging deeper than the usual chocolate bunny thing with eggs.
We just got back from our 9 day vacation in Florida. Visited with two special friends in central and south Florida. Feels good and especially for showing up at someone's place if all others did exit. By the way, I will forward them your previous post about the role people play in our lives. Thanks again for that post!!!
Have a very rich and spiritual Easter Weekend with your loved ones; two and four-legged.
Hugs and lots of love,
Mariette
Following you from the Weekend blog hop! Hope you will follow back!
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter!
www.thereviewstew.com
Congratulations on being the featured blog for So Followed Saturday!
ReplyDeleteNew follower :)
http://www.wicked-wicker.com/2011/04/hopping-down-bunny-trail-hippity.html
Jill
What a very meaningful post. I always ask my grand children why we are celebrating and they are onto me now because they always answer Jesus. I feel well armed now with some facts.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on being chosen to ride shotgun this weekend:)
You have a very blessed Easter and don'y forget to save some chocolate for me.
Very interesting post. The pictures are beautiful and I am always pleased to read again l Peter 1:3. Thanks for posting. Happy Easter!
ReplyDeleteI had not heard the legend about Mary's tomb. This is an interesting post. I hope you have a very Happy Easter.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Charlotte
You did an excellent job on your Easter presentation today. Well done!
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely Easter! I can't wait to eat my Cadburys Creme Egg later!
ReplyDeleteThis is so interesting, I learned something new today,thank-you:) Blessings,
ReplyDeleteGinger
I did not know that about the Easter lilies...
ReplyDeleteWishing you a blessed Easter!
Best,
Colleen
Beautiful and inspiring post! It's very important to us that our children understand the true meaning of Easter. Wishing you a lovely week! xoxo, B
ReplyDeleteLoved learning the pre-Christian meaning behind Easter, I had no idea there was even a celebration before the resurrection! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter Celia and what a lovely post. Here in Spain the religious aspects are very prevalent all week (perhaps to an extreme), but still we need to be reminded sometimes of why/what we are actually celebrating.
ReplyDelete