By Rosie Moore

Easter is over, with its lovely aroma of Easter lilies and the glorious rising of Jesus to overcome the sting of death. I got to thinking, however, why does it come on a different Sunday each year? As you know, Christmas comes on the same date but not the same day. I also learned that Easter is always held on a Sunday between March 22nd and April 25th.

Specifically, it is held on the first Sunday following the full moon that occurs on or just after the spring equinox. Interestingly, this year the full moon and the spring equinox fell on the same day, Wednesday, March 20th.

Up north we celebrate Shrove Tuesday, which is the day before Lent starts. I guess they do here too but we would celebrate by eating Fasnachts, which is a fried doughnut covered with powdered sugar. It is a day of penitence, to clean the soul and the day of celebration as the last chance to feast before Lent begins.

I have slightly digressed from my subject but only to observe the many practices that occur during this season; practices that are Biblical and also may pertain to our daily lives. Holy Week, which is the week leading up to the main event, includes Holy Monday, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Palm Sunday. Maundy Thursday is the day Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with his Apostles. Many people know about these events and celebrate them accordingly. I know I’m a little late with these facts, but think about them the following year, when Easter will come on April 12th. Be joyful that they do occur!

Thought for the day: If it were not for hope, the heart would break.    Thomas Fuller

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