One thing I try to avoid is mimicking what other bloggers write about. But I was reading Maureen McCabe's blog today and she mentioned a blog by Ann Arbor real estate agent Karen Moorehead that explains why Easter was so early this year.
My kids asked me about this today...and interestingly enough, right after I read Maureen's, and then Karen's blogs, I got an email from my friend in Georgia that also explained the date for Easter 2008.
Evidently, it has to do with math, and full moons. In a nutshell, Easter has always been tied closely to the Jewish Passover - the events that led our Savior to the cross all occurred during the Passover. (This part I knew.)
The time for Easter and Passover are determined by the date of the first full moon after the Spring equinox. This year's early Easter has not happened since 1913, and won't happen again for more than 100 years. Read Karen's blog for a better explanation. Here is another blog, Experimental Theology by Richard Beck, that goes into a bit more detail about the astronomy AND church history behind the timing of Easter. And if that's not enough, here's more info for math geeks.
Other Easter Ramblings...
One thing that irritates me about Easter: Easter dresses for little girls. Go to any store here in Northeast PA and
you'll see racks of beautiful dresses - for girls living in the Deep South. Here in the Poconos, we're still wearing wool socks and thick sweaters, and will continue to do so for at least another few weeks. My friends in Michigan have been blessed with 8 inches or more of snow...So why are the Easter frocks sold in the North sleeveless and gauzy? Can't they make pretty spring dresses with long sleeves, and maybe slightly heavier fabric? Can't we have a version for those of us with Klondike Klimates, and a version for those in California and other spots closer to the Equator?
I'm slightly--no, very jealous of my friends who live in warmer climates, who don't have to wear gloves when hiding (and hunting) Easter eggs...one year my girlfriend and I noticed that the kids would have no problem finding the eggs we hid - they only needed to follow our footprints through the snow.
As a Christian of the more conservative type, I've been exposed to the various teachings that Easter isn't about eggs and bunnies, and that those practices are pagan in origin and have no place in the Christian tradition - but I disagree. Bunnies and eggs are GOD's creations, and are signs of hope and life - even when the ground is frozen and snow covered and the trees are still bare.
Good News About the Resurrection - this article by Carol Kent is excellent. I had the privilege of hearing Carol's story not once, but twice as she shared her heart (and heartbreak) at the last two Women of Faith conferences I attended. I am not one to broadcast my faith on my blog, as I generally steer clear of online discussions of religion and politics. Carol's story touched my heart, however - and I wanted to share it with my readers.
I give thanks to God for the Resurrection which gives me hope - and for bunnies (especially the chocolate ones).
May the Joy of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ Fill Your Life with Hope
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KAREN, I had a quiet Easter but late this afternoon was out picking weeds and thinking about my children hunting for eggs. We didn't live in this warm climate when that was going on but you are right it would be a wonderul place to have an Easter egg hunt. The weedy type grass, that I was picking would have been perfect.
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