"You are never too old to Learn!
You are never too old to Teach!
You should never be too old to Listen!”
(a recent quote by Solomon Fein)
As I reflect on the Significance of Easter, I have “learned” a few facts which increase my knowledge and devotion to this religious weekend. In the Burlington Post, a dozen or more Easter Worship Services are announced. Various presentations invite us to attend: Maundy Thursday; Good Friday
Services; communion; sunrise services at a lakefront park or within the churches; inspirational messages;
special Easter music with brass ensemble; breakfasts; tea and coffee with refreshments; nursery care
and Sunday School for children also provided.
From my previous writings, you will recall that I was born and raised on a farm. Yes, the small village churches held Good Friday and Easter Sunday worship times which we attended. The greatest joy for my sister and me was to participate (when teenagers) in “Youth for Christ” Sunrise Services on Easter Sunday in Brantford (our parents drove us there , then returned later to drive us home). It was “religious ardour” to meld with the many teens and young people at 6:30 AM in a waterfront park facing the Grand River. Here, we were enchanted with the rising sun as it edged over the eastern horizon, casting its rays over urban and rural lands, then settling on the cool water in front of us. The elation and emotion we experienced was indescribable! The music by a small piece orchestra and early morning messages rejoiced and inspired us. Following this service, we all breakfasted together, revelling in the fellowship and a fresh understanding that this Sunrise Service initiated “a new life experience”. This was also special to Eileen and me in that our parents gave us each a new coat, hat and shoes to commemorate this event.
Now, looking at these church announcements this early Good Friday, I question “What is Maundy Thursday?” Known as Holy Thursday, Covenant Thursday, Great and Holy Thursday and Thursday of Mystery, it is the Canadian Feast or Holy Day. Foot Washing Ceremonies are often part of Maundy Thursday services. The day honours The Last Supper when Jesus shared the Passover Meal with his disciples on the night before he was crucified. Prior to this, He washed the feet of his disciples. By performing this lowly act of service, the Bible says in John 13:1 that Jesus “showed the full extent of his Love”. By his example He demonstrated how Christians are “to love one another through humble service”. During the Passover Meal, Jesus had “bread and wine”and asked His Father to bless it. He broke the bread into pieces, giving it to his disciples.
Maundy is derived from the Latin word “mandatum” (meaning commandment).
It refers to the commandment Jesus gave to his disciples at The Last Supper...to love one another with
humility, serving one another and to remember his sacrifice.
Easter marks the end of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting, prayer and penance. Easter is linked to the Jewish Passover by much of its symbolism as well as its position in the calendar. While many Jewish holidays revolve around the synagogue, the Seder is conducted in the family home. The Passover Seder is probably the best known of the Jewish holidays, mostly because it ties in with Christian history... (The Last Supper was apparently a Passover Seder). The primary observances of Passover are related to the “exodus from Egypt after 400 years of slavery”. It commemorates the fact that the Jews were hurried and did not have time to let their bread rise. The grain product during Passover called “matzah” is unleavened bread, made from flour and water and boiled very quickly.
Easter customs vary across the Christian world, but decorating Easter eggs is a common motif. In the Western world, customs such as “egg hunting” and the Easter Bunny extend from the domain of the church and often have a secular meaning.
The Easter Bunny is inspired through traditions that have come over one generation to another. Christians follow them as did their parents and grandparents. People believed that the Easter Bunny or the Easter Rabbit or the Easter Hare is said to reproduce very quickly and hence, they were “symbols of
fertilization and fruitfulness.” They represented “new life”during the Spring Festival.
Easter eggs are a widely popular symbol of “new life” in Bulgaria, Russia and Romania. They are often given to celebrate Easter in springtime. The egg is a pagan belief in the rebirth of the Earth in the celebration of Spring and was adopted by Christians as a symbol of “the resurrection of Jesus”. Many today still use dyed or artistically painted chicken eggs; however, a modern custom is to substitute chocolate eggs or plastic eggs filled with confectionery such as jelly beans. These eggs are often hidden (allegedly by the Easter Bunny) for children to find on Easter morning. Otherwise, they are generally placed in a basket with real or artificial straw to resemble a bird's nest.
The Easter Parade is a novel by Richard Yates, first published in 1976. It is also a 1948 American musical film starring Judy Garland and Fred Astaire, featuring music by Irving Berlin. I recognize it as the Easter Parade in New York City along 5th Avenue from 49th to 57th Street displaying fashions and hats. The area around St. Patrick's Cathedral is said to be the ideal place to casually view The Easter Parade and Easter Bonnet Festival from 10 AM to 4 PM on Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011.
This morning I have “travelled” from North America to Europe, gleaned numerous new facts about Easter... and assembled in my thoughts the sincerity of this special weekend.
These cannot be better expressed than the following:
“For I remember, it is Easter Morn
And Life and Love and Peace are all newborn”
(Alice Freeman Palmer)
“Easter is the demonstration of God
that Life is essentially spiritual and timeless.”
(Charles M. Crowe)
“The Resurrection gives my life meaning and direction
and the opportunity to start again, no matter what the circumstances.”
(Robert Flatt)
Merle Baird-Kerr
April 22, 2011
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