Christians celebrate holiest week with time-honored traditions

As Easter approaches, the stores are filled with jelly beans, chocolate eggs, real, plush and edible rabbits, egg-dying kits, and colorful baskets to hold all the Easter bounty. The department stores are filled with people buying Easter outfits, and flowers everywhere are coming back to life again. While area churches report record-breaking attendance beginning on Palm Sunday, most people are unaware that Easter is much more than just new clothes, colored eggs and bunnies. Easter is the Christian observance of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and his resurrection days later. But what about all the rest of the Easter paraphernalia? Where did these old and beloved traditions come from? First is the question everyone asks each year before consulting a calendar. “When is Easter this year?” Easter arrives each year in spring at the climax of Holy Week. The calculation used to determine Easter is complicated, but the short answer is, it is the first Sunday after the full moon after the vernal equinox. Or more precisely: Easter Sunday is the first Sunday after the “official” full moon on or after the official vernal equinox. The official vernal equinox is always March 21. For centuries this holiday provided a time of cheerful celebrations and feasts after the long winter months and somber days of Lent. Easter followed Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday, all part of Holy Week. Butterflies have been widely cherished as symbols of new life and are to this day a part of symbolic church décor at Easter. Eggs, the most recognized symbol of Easter traditions, were dyed in ancient times by the Egyptians and Persians, who then exchanged them with friends as symbols of fertility and new life. As Christianity spread, Easter eggs became the symbol of the hope of new life through the resurrection of Jesus. Rabbits are a powerful symbol of fertility and new life, as well, and therefore evocative of Easter. Originally it was an Easter Hare, which were more common in Europe. It is believed that Americans adopted the rabbit in the 1700s, because rabbits were more common than hares in America. The first documented use of a “bunny” was in Germany in the 1500s. The custom of the Easter parade began as a way for people to stroll along Main Street in their best spring clothes, waving and saying hello to friends, while showing off a bit. During the “Gay 90s” (1890s, that is) the parade reached its peak as the social event of the season. Dressing up for Easter dates back hundreds of years. In the Middle Ages, converts to Christianity were baptized in fresh white robes on Easter, while everyone else dressed in their best clothes. Beginning in the 1800s, Easter bonnets and gloves were must-have accessories in order to create the right look. Lavish creations were made by upgrading affordable hats and adorning them with fine ribbon, lace, embroideries, blooms and bows. Christians believe the Easter lily originated in the Garden of Eden from the teardrops of Eve. The Easter lily now represents many things to Christians around the world, including the resurrection of Christ, purity and innocence, and a new season and new birth. Easter greeting cards became popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Many cards used pictures of lily of the valley flowers, hanging joyfully over a cross. The color purple was also popular, symbolizing Jesus’ royalty. Some cards were so fancy, they had gold leafing applied to them. So get ready ‘cause “Here comes Peter Cotton Tail, hoppin’ down the bunny trail, hippity, hoppity, Easter’s on it’s way .…” These words were sung by Gene Autry in 1949. Ever since, Peter Cottontail has been considered the Santa of Easter, bringing baskets of Easter joy to every boy and girl.