The Easter story is not just Christian history. Not only the name "Easter" is the name of a deity and a former non-Christian, the season was also always an opportunity for the rituals and customs dealing with the mystery of death and resurrection of the people very different by race and religion "- Easter: its history and significance of Alan W. Watts, 1950 ..

Today, all over the world, Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ in America as "Easter".

But how can we call vacation? It is not so difficult to determine the origin of the name of Christmas, at least, it's a short jump on the "mass of Christ" or service on the date of the birth of Jesus.

And then there's the crazy looking rabbit, and why are all decorated eggs.

What does all this with the miracle of the resurrection to do? Exactly, not much.

But that could be happening in the earlier tradition of the people instead mostly glass, and although the data can not change the fundamental not.It story and life rhythms of the seasons of a surprise to see that His name is holy, holy days of Christianity to its roots probably just the name (s) of the pagan goddess and the death and resurrection of Christ.

In Europe, the festival of the goddess of the dawn, Eostre (also Eastre, Ostara, and a variety of other spellings, depending on the site) is celebrated, usually on the first full moon after the spring equinox.

So what we now call, "April" was once "Eosturmonath" or "Eostre months" mentioned in the Germanic calendar, about 8 Century, "said the Venerable Bede us.

Compared to celebrate Easter on the first Sunday of the Christians of the West after the full moon of the vernal equinox after or the March 21 .*

Did not always formally the case now for the first time by the Council in Nicaea 325 Previously, the date to celebrate the resurrection of an important question. Was also that Easter always falls on Sunday.

It was still very early days of Christianity, and other, older religions were still flourishing. Church officials were not unaware of this festival cooptation and compare existing done to limit the seeds of a new religion on the existing beliefs.

In the East, the festival of Ishtar (correctly pronounced "Easter") and resurrection of Tammuz was held shortly after the day and night are equal.

However, they could be lying there something, even if it is not really new. The house he was tied to many of the same connotations.

The mystery of the death and resurrection remarkably similar in many places and times, and time of year when it will be recognized, there is almost universal across the north of hemisphere.

Some trees or branches that would be brought to the temple, or in some cases, the number would be the figure of the young god to be hung on a sacred tree, and a central stem. For Tammuz, the "tree" and not high-'T ', by the way on this form is a "cross" was used for life in Roman times.

In the final days of fasting, the faithful gathered to sing hymns mourning, and when it was finally finished, it was removed and placed in the twilight of the pain and continued into the night.

In the morning, a big fire was lit and ...

"The faithful have turned pain to pleasure ... opened the tomb. God raised from the dead, and when the priest's lips was the weeping mourners with balm, he said softly in the ear of the good news of salvation, The resurrection was God's promise to his disciples as they celebrated triumphantly from the grave corruption issue. ... In the morning, the divine resurrection was celebrated with joy outburst. wild in Rome, and probably elsewhere, the celebration took the form of a carnival ... "- The Golden Bough, Sir James Frazer, 1922.We remember today when we go to the supermarket and pick up a dozen at any time, when the eggs were a seasonal product. In nature, birds know not to lay eggs throughout the year. their spawning cycles are regulated by natural light, and when the days get shorter, so do the eggs.

If you look at old books food, you'll need some ways to get people from eggs preserved by the cold of winter. Surprisingly good, if the methods, it would be difficult to maintain supplies to all winter, and even if you have an egg would have been welcome.

When the season started? you guessed it.

And if you ever have free range chickens kept, you know that this time of year, they hide them everywhere. Yes, even in the grass. (Maybe not, I've never raised chickens, but when I was in college, my landlord, and there are things I saw personally.)

But there's no Easter bunnies to make the chicken lay eggs?

Well, actually, according to myth, at least one. And it's not a hare, rabbit.

In Europe, the rabbit animal night until the mating season, that is. Then there are rabbits around all day crazy fertility.

Eostre is the totem of a rabbit and after story, the goddess is transformed into a hare. In one legend, the goddess saves a wounded bird she is coming with a rabbit, it is the largest animal. But there was a bird, it could still decide that rabbit eggs, and in gratitude for the goddess, add the eggs of birds of color on festival days ago.

Looking to the Babylonian Ishtar reaching the earth from heaven in a golden egg, although tied with rabbit Tammuz.

The hare in the moon-man saw a rabbit, long before he saw a man.

And the golden egg in the sky to give Mother Nature? Although the sun.

The two met up relations between the sun and the moon, ideal for holidays at the vernal equinox, time of day and night the same venue, and also to show the fruitfulness of the season.

If all this is not enough, there's always the Easter bunny in German, literally the "Easter Bunny" in English, German settlers brought to America in the 1700s. In a variant of the above legend, Eostre changed her pet bird on a bunny to amuse the kids colored eggs, which she very well might.

Since the influence of German origin in the region and the date fixed for Easton, although there is no evidence it is quite possible, in conjunction with one of the first Christmas tree, is Easton, Pennsylvania, home to some of U.S. older versions of Easter bunny or the Easter Bunny as well.

Christos Annest! Have a happy Easter.

If you are a child, nothing beats occasions that pile of candy, toys and / or expensive electronics on you. Frankly, in adulthood, the same thing. Too bad the adults have decreased opportunities miserably.

In an effort to transform the tradition and religion many years ago, Santa Claus and his entire secret of an annual effort of the Christian Mothers. Evidence of their existence requires something more than milk and cookies. Although I must admit that in our house, Matt said that Father Christmas, children have cookies and milk at any other house. Would not it be nice if we Santa pretzels and beer left?

Santa was happy to come to our house.

Outside on the lawn, was a testament to Rudolph hunger gnawed carrot and thank you for the work. If there is no snow on the lawn, enterprising parents create slides and hoof prints.

Head's Up to this subject, however, be sure that it proved no ice under the snow before I do, and that Santa Claus exists. Landing on the back and sliding head long dense thorn bushes, decorated earlier in the colored lights, so that you do with a possible concussion and a small electric shock to Christmas morning is not fun, they are not funny. Trust me on that.

Fast forward a few months and we have the Mack Daddy of all Christian holidays, Easter - which we intend adorned with a giant rabbit and eggs. Prove the existence of the Easter Bunny is a monumental feat. I think we could "Goobers" or "Raisinets" across the lawn and maybe throw in a carrot to throw two or nibbled.

Worse for the rabbit, there is a Santa Claus in all centers at Christmas time. centers Unfortunately, only a few allow the Easter Bunny. Probably because a giant rabbit's living daylights scared children. I know what I mean, people.

My daughter, Elyse, was asked to go to a nursery school in a bunny suit for Easter. She was with children, jump, play and finally have their picture taken with a smile died.

From the beginning, they knew it was not a pleasant experience. She said that the rabbit's head like an enormous helmet, and unfortunately, had a locker room smell. When she came to class, they sent a very high presence of rabbits that some children running and screaming "Most rabbits will eat me!" A child is sitting on her lap, looked at her and hit her head . Thank God for headphones stink.

She tried everything to win over reluctant toddlers, but without being able to speak, it was difficult. Nevertheless, the school had promised pictures of the parents of their children with the Easter Bunny, so Elyse had to engage in stealth tactics.

They put a child in the specified area to keep Elyse in the corner. Some of these children trusted their teachers because they kept twitching and looked nervously at them. When they finally managed to distract them from Elyse in her bunny costume enormous, they were hiding behind them, and as the photo was taken, he appeared in the photo.

You can imagine the hysteria that was created by more than one child who is afraid of a bulbous head of the Easter Bunny appeared beside them. I doubt they sing about Peter Rabbit in this school for a while.

Another principle is the decoration of Easter eggs, of which one is messed up. First, you need to cover the layout of the newspaper every imaginable surface, which is smart.

Unfortunately, children are the antidote to chip. He used to take it lasts less than 10 seconds, while the paper you just spent 10 minutes carefully.

On the death of the eggs, which is usually a free for all, it almost always ends with a cup of dye landing tile brand new has not yet been sealed. Here's a handy trick when this happens - never clean ammonia directly. Once you have the awareness of the vapors again, it usually takes the type of tile for a week or two for the flooring replaced now in ruins.

The labels provided with the kits at the end to the arms, faces, cups, curtains, painted walls, anywhere but an egg. And despite the fact that they are clear, those little wax markers not invisible. The murals are done with them yet seen the wall of your kitchen.

By the time you've cleaned up the spilled dye, stickers scraped from almost any surface in your kitchen, carefully peeled wax marker of the wall, pieces of shells of a dozen eggs broken, thrown collected Ladle egg thrown rather fragile and useless paper, it is after midnight. Until now, you can pretty much clobber rabbits. In fact, I often have rabbits Hasenpfeffer more than once, dying after a night of a dream.

However, you make great memories during the Easter holidays. After your three years ago on a muddy field, hunting for eggs, because they lead in the direction of these eggs is a rite of parenthood. Believe me when they get older, you miss it.

And it signals the hope of the return of spring, when the world wakes up from its long winter sleep. He announces full of lilac buds that will soon be all centers fragrant tulips break through the hard soil once the world with color shower.

For Christians, this means much more. It is at the heart of our faith, the Son of God died and rose from his tomb, which promises eternal life for believers. It is a time when many renew their faith and take stock of their lives. I hope we remember the sacrifices we promise that life after death precious.

And yes, he brings with him that the giant Easter Bunny. Love him or hate him, there seems to be a "rabbit" to stay. Thus, rabbits do not feel offended, we give him something to eat before he is on his way.

Peeps. These moist and delicious, delicious, sugar, marshmallow tits LITTLE shape (and bunnies) Always seem to come out of hiding and on the floors of shops to fill our lives Feter Easter.

Quebec Forward Look over by Think Quebec chocolate Peeps at Easter Bunny. The Easter bunny a long time exceeded the time honored son of Easter candy. Like the Easter Bunny, but I prefer mates.

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Russia celebrates Easter, remember the most important festival and joyful Christian resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion. Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Cyril held a service of celebration night at the Cathedral of Christ the Redeemer.

In his Easter message, said the head of the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates the feast of Easter, the victory of life over death, the resurrection of Christ Redeemer granted resurrection from the dead for us all. "

Festive Easter services are running on more than 30,000 churches of the Russian Orthodox Church. The latest opinion poll showed that the overwhelming majority of Russians - 90 percent - to celebrate Easter this year.

Easter is a movable feast with the date on a lunisolar calendar redefined each year separately. In 2011, Easter East and West fell on the data fall on April 24.