Tag Archive for Easter

Easter and Chocolate Bunnies

So, your non-Christian friends, in front of your children, are teasing you about how the chocolate bunnies, chicks, and eggs in your kids’ Easter baskets can’t have anything to do with Christ.  It’s time to explain the symbolism to them. 

In ancient times the rabbit (bunny) symbolized abundant new life, as do baby chicks.  And the egg, an ancient symbol of Spring, opens, releasing the chick, reminding us of Christ’s coming forth from the tomb.  Other indicators of new life are the flowers and baby animals often pictured in Easter settings.  Point out the beauty of God’s creation in the form of these Easter symbols, in the birds in the sky, in a newborn in your friends’ family, in the love given by grandparents, and in your garden, which, like Jesus, died but will be brimming with new life in Spring.  Focus the kids’ attention on the gift the Father gave us and that Jesus came to save for all eternity, the gift that must be honored and cherished in all its forms—life.

Too Many Eggs and Bunnies

Have left-over Easter baskets, grass, or plastic (ug!) eggs?  Here’s a solution: stash them away for next year. That cute bunny suit that won’t fit Junior next year? Donate it now before it’s ruined.  Candy nobody will eat?  Compost it.

[For more easy, money-saving, Earth-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to www.Smashwords.com/books/view/7000 or your favorite e-book seller and download to your computer or e-book device. Totally free, with no strings attached.]

Seeds of Peace

Because of the significance of the season--notably Good Friday today, beginning of Passover tonight, Easter Sunday in two days–I’d like us all to think about peace.

PEACE is God’s loving gift to us.  All He asks is that we accept it together.  All of us, from all faiths.  One way is through “The Peace Seeds.”  These 12 prayers were prayed in  Assisi on the 1986 Day of Prayer for World Peace.  They are Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Muslim, Sikh, Bahai’, Shinto, Native African, Native American, Zoroastrian, Jewish, and Christian.  They may refer to the Life Force in different ways, but all call on it to help us attain the peace our Father wishes for us.

Let each prayer touch you deeply, where your longing for peace lives. Feel the unity of the world is in its craving for peace.  Then call upon God using each prayer.  You may want to change the references you aren’t comfortable with: “Vedic Law” in the Hindu to “Holy Law” or “Buddhahood” to “Your Will.” Remember: God wants not mere words from us but a unified desire to accept His gift.

You’ll find the Peace Seed Prayers at http://chaplaincyinstitute.org/library/blessings-and-prayers/interfaith-prayers-for-peace.

Guilt-Free Chocolate

What is the first secular thing that comes to mind with the word “Easter”?  Chocolate, of  course.  Chocolate eggs, chocolate bunnies…gobs of chocolate that make our minds twitch with guilty pleasure.

How about guilt-free chocolate?  The pounds may stay, but not regrets about how that yummy stuff got to us.  The same with coffee, tea, rice, sugar, juice, honey, wine, flowers, crafts–all sorts of things that often reach our homes through the mistreatment of people in other countries.  Many, often young children, work under harsh conditions to support their families.  But it’s the only work available.  The FAIR-TRADE MOVEMENT aims to change this, to provide employment, fair wages, decent conditions, and money that goes back into their communities for health and education.  This is not “free trade,” which is political, among nations, but “fair trade,” valuing the well-being of people.

Participate by buying products on-line (Google “Fair Trade”) or at Safeway, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Cost Plus, Peet’s, Starbucks, and elsewhere.  Watch for the “Fair Trade” symbol on packages.  Ask the manager.  Make your interest known.  Then, maybe just one more nibble wouldn’t hurt….

Easter-Basket Time!

Instead of using a plastic or processed wicker Easter basket, use a wooden one or reuse an old one (may need new coat of paint).  Or sew one out of fabric.  Or use something reusable, like a sand pail.

Leaf 6

[For more easy, money-saving, earth-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to www.Smashwords.com/books/view/7000 or your favorite e-book seller and download to your computer or e-book device. Totally free, with no strings attached.]

Bunnies, Chicks, Hats, & Colored Eggs as Easter Symbols

We all know that the lamb represents the Lamb of God (Jesus), the cross His victory over death, and candles His being the Light of the World.  From there we tend to scratch our heads over items that seem to be purely commercial.  Actually, they are all rooted in Easter symbolism and tradition.

For example, in ancient times the rabbit (bunny) symbolized abundant new life, as do baby chicks.  And the egg, an ancient symbol of spring, opens, thus releasing the chick, reminding us of Christ’s coming forth from the tomb.  Other indicators of new life are the flowers and baby animals often pictured in Easter settings.  Even the custom of wearing Easter hats and new clothes has a traditional basis—putting off the old life and donning the new life Jesus offers through His death and resurrection, much like the baptismal garment.

Then there are those seemingly oddball foods.  Next time you eat a hot cross bun, think of the cross on top, and when eating a pretzel (an Easter food in some areas), consider the shape, which is like arms crossed in prayer.

The symbol closest to my own heart, though, is the butterfly, whose whole life represents the life Jesus.  It begins as a caterpillar (Christ’s life on Earth), becomes a cocoon (His crucifixion and burial), then bursts out as a beautiful butterfly (just as Christ rose from death into glory).

The ancients had it right.  On Easter, one would greet another with, “He is risen!”  The other would look in awe at the world around him and answer, “He is risen, indeed!”

Have a blessed Easter season.

 

 

Here’s Eggs-actly What to Do

What to do with egg cartons after coloring Easter eggs: use the bottom half in a drawer to store small items (thumb tacks, paper clips, earrings), or punch drainage holes, add soil, seed, and water, place in a sunny spot, and watch your seedlings grow.  Later on, after the cartons get grungy or torn, toss them into your compost pile.

Leaf 6

[For more easy, money-saving, earth-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to www.Smashwords.com/books/view/7000, choose a format, and download to your computer or e-book device. Or download a free copy from your favorite E-book seller.]

A Wedding Surprise

I’m sure you’re familiar with the song about the Broken Hallelujah. This currently popular song is being adapted in interesting ways. One adaptation tells the Easter story.  Another was a surprise for a bride and groom as they sat in their wedding chairs on an Irish altar.  The priest walked to the altar.  Gentle music began playing. And he sang out his version of the song, tailored to the happy (and startled) couple.  I found it fun and charming.  Take a look:

http://diamondbar-walnut.patch.com/groups/holidays/p/singing-priest-says-hallelujuah-to-irish-couple-is-wedding-mass-for-celebrating-with-song_77f43e97?ncid=newsltuspatc00000001&evar4=picks-2-post&newsRef=true

 

 

Jesus was Insignificant

Jesus is neither historical nor influential.  According to Google.  That’s what they said when asked why they posted a picture of Caesar Chavez yesterday rather than an Easter-related picture.  I guess they have no historians at their office who would take note that the man Jesus really did live and created quite a stir in history.  Historians, including those from major religions (Christians, Jews, Muslims, etc.) AND agnostics and atheists agree that Jesus has influenced millions of people.  Not just people interested in him as part of their religion, but as a great teacher and example for promoting the ideas of peace and human beings caring for one another.  Ask Gandhi!  But don’t ask Google.