Easter: Celebration of Rebirth; Catholic and Protestant Churches celebrate Easter Sunday April 8, 2012 but the Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates Easter Sunday April 15 in 2012.
Easter is often considered to be nothing more than a Christian holiday that is celebrated around the world. The Easter holiday marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The origin of Easter can be traced back to mythology. The name Easter comes from the name of an ancient Greek Goddess of Spring, Eostre. Eostre, it was believed returned to the Earth after a long, cold winter and with her, brought along the light and warmth of Spring. Ancient Greeks celebrated the return of Eostre and spring with pagan festivals. As with many pagan festivals, the date coincided with the equinox on the 21st of March every year. It was important to keep Eostre happy in order to ensure she would return year after year. Therefore the Greeks threw an extravagant feast and celebration.
When the holiday became more Christianized, the celebration was no longer about welcoming spring, but instead was based upon the resurrection of Jesus. To sever the ties from paganism even further, the church changed the date of the festival from being held on the spring equinox, but instead it was to be held the first Sunday following the full moon after the vernal equinox (or on the full moon if it happened to fall on the first Sunday). Because the holiday is to be scheduled based upon that of the full moon, the Easter holiday can be celebrated as early as March 22nd or as late as April 25th.
Symbols that are often associated with Easter and their meanings are:
Easter Eggs represent the new season and the new life of the crops as the world wakes up from the sleep of winter. Scenes like rising sun and northern lights were printed on original Easter Eggs by pagans for their celebration. Christians believe in a legend that said that Mary offered eggs to Roman soldiers in exchange for not killing her son. Eggs are therefore considered a lucky gift to share on Easter.
Easter Lilies represent the purity of the new life that comes from being resurrected.
Easter Bunny was originally an Easter Hare. Hares are a symbol of fertility linked to the Greek goddess of fertility - Eostre. Later, as it was more recognized that rabbits were more active reproducers, the bunny replaced the hare.
Easter chicks represent the rebirth of the earth.
Today, in modern times, Easter is celebrated not only in the United States but around the world. Each symbol and tradition marking a tradition of life, renewal, rebirth, and resurrection, not just for the Christian belief of Christ, but for the rejuvenation of the world as winter is replaced by the warmth of spring.
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Great Seeds of Wizdumb from the Easter Bunny:
Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
Walk softly and carry a big carrot.
Everyone needs a friend who is all ears.
There's no such thing as too much candy.
All work and no play can make you a basket case.
A cute little tail attracts a lot of attention.
Everyone is entitled to a bad hare day.
Let happy thoughts multiply like rabbits.
Some body parts should be floppy.
Keep you paws off other people's jellybeans.
Good things come in small-sugarcoated packages.
The grass is greener in someone else's basket.
An Easter bonnet can tame even the wildest hare.
To show your true colors you have to come out of the shell.
The best things in life are still sweet and gooey.
A list of great movies for Easter Holiday time watching; Easter Movie List in order starting with most recent:
1)The Passion of the Christ (2004 - R - a very graphic not for kids violent movie) - Oscar-winning actor-director Mel Gibson helms this controversial epic film that focuses on the last 12 hours of Jesus's life -- from the betrayal, trial and death of Jesus to his brutal Crucifixion and resurrection from the tomb. Starring Jim Caviezel as Jesus, Maia Morgenstern as Jesus's mother and Monica Bellucci as Mary Magdalene, The Passion is spoken entirely in Latin and Aramaic, and the violent Crucifixion scenes are incredibly graphic.
2) The Miracle Maker: The Story of Jesus (2000 - NR - ok for the entire family) - A heavyweight cast of voice-over talent (Ralph Fiennes, Julie Christie, William Hurt and Ian Holm) breathes life into this animated version (using the claymation process) of the greatest story ever told. King Herod, Judas Iscariot and Mary Magdalene are all on hand to play their parts in the life story of Jesus Christ. Particularly effective is the imaginative use of flashbacks.
4) Jesus of Nazareth (1977 - NR) - In this well-received TV miniseries, the life of Jesus Christ is diligently and respectfully documented. The miniseries' impressive international cast includes Robert Powell (as Jesus Christ), Ernest Borgnine, Peter Ustinov, Anne Bancroft (as Mary Magdalene), Laurence Olivier, James Earl Jones and Christopher Plummer (as Herod). Acclaimed director Franco Zeffirelli (Romeo and Juliet) is at the helm.
5) It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown (1974 - NR) - Charlie Brown, Linus and the entire Peanuts gang are off on a lively Easter egg hunt. They suspect they've spotted the Easter Bunny … but the trouble is, he looks a lot like a certain beagle who's near and dear to Charlie Brown's heart. Is it truly the Easter Bunny, or is it just the irrepressible Snoopy playing a trick on the kids?
6) The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965 - G) - Swedish actor Max von Sydow made his English-speaking debut in this gargantuan retelling of the life of Christ from Giant director George Stevens. The much-ballyhooed all-star cast includes Charlton Heston as John the Baptist and John Wayne as The Centurion at The Crucifixion. Filmed in Death Valley and in Utah, Nevada and Arizona locations, this dazzling epic garnered five Oscar nominations, including Best Special Effects and Best Score.
7) King of Kings (1961 - NR) - Jeffrey Hunter stars in the titular role in this expansive version of Jesus' story that hews faithfully to the New Testament. A moving Sermon on the Mount, a vixenish Salome dancing for King Herod and the gripping crucifixion are just a few of the memorable set pieces. Narrator Orson Welles keeps the almost three-hour film from plodding. This ambitious biblical adaptation is a fine Hollywood version of the greatest story ever told.
8) Ben Hur (1959 - NR) - An epoch Christ-time adventure drama movie made to be viewed in the wide format, in hi-def widescreen the action is sometimes jaw-dropping and the colors are breathtaking, the story is of course timeless: Starring Charlton Heston, Stephen Boyd, Hugh Griffith and directed by William Wyler. When a Jewish prince is betrayed and sent into slavery by a Roman friend, he regains his freedom and comes back for revenge but he gets something much greater.
9)The Robe (1953 - NR) - Hardened Roman Marcellus Gallio (Richard Burton) oversees the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem. But problems arise when Marcellus wins Christ's robe in a dice game, played beneath the dying man. Haunted by guilt, Marcellus hopes that destroying the garment -- now in the possession of his escaped slave (Victor Mature) -- will cure his hallucinations. The film won Oscars for Best Costume Design, Best Art Direction and Best Set Decoration.
What day is Easter 2012? In the year 2012 Easter Sunday celebrations will be on:
Easter Sunday in 2012 is Sunday April 8 or Sunday April 15, 2012:
The 2012 April 8 Sunday Easter Date applies only to the western calendar (Catholic and Protestant Churches), but the The Eastern Orthodox church celebrates Easter Sunday April 15 in 2012. Two dated for Easter is usually the case since the two branches of Christianity have different methods for calculating the correct date for Easter.
Easter is celebrated in April the Sunday following the first Paschal Full Moon (or on the full moon if it happened to fall on the first Sunday); this is always the date Easter is celebrated that year by the Catholic and Protestant Churches. Orthodox churches celebrate their Easter always on the basis of the Julian calendar.
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