Easter will be here on 23rd March this year. In the Christian church, its a time of celebration, the end of the Lenten fasting period. To many people Easter is a time when people dressed as rabbits wander about the local shopping centre scaring children. It also means eating lots of chocolate eggs and having holidays.
In some languages the holidays name is derived from the Greek name, Pascha which comes from Pesach, the Hebrew festival of Passover. This is why its called the Paschal Feast.
In the past, when the religious aspect of Easter was more widely adhered to, the dawning of Easter Sunday must have been a welcome time indeed. Not only did people eat meat, eggs and dairy food again, after their 4-week fast, but they also felt genuinely grateful that eternal life was available to them and they threw themselves into the celebrations.
The egg was far more important than just a chocolate gift, as it is now. It was seen as a symbol of life itself, which represented the new life after death, and was one of the foods forbidden during Lent.
Like the egg, the rabbit has been since ancient times a symbol of fertility. Birds lay eggs and rabbits give birth to large litters in the early spring.
The English name Easter, and the German Ostern derive from the name of the Anglo-Saxon Goddess of the Dawn called Easter in Old English and Ostara in German.
As well as Easter, this time of year is important to us, being proud partners of Red Cross Australia, because the month of March is time for the Red Cross Calling Appeal. One simple donation from you can provide relief in times of crisis, give care to the frail, sick and elderly and show commitment when others turn away.
We also sponsor New Zealand Red Cross, who are running their annual appeal from 2nd8th March, so please give generously. Australians can donate online at www.redcross.org.au, phone 1800 811 700 or at Coles Supermarkets. New Zealanders can donate to street collectors, call 0900 73327 to donate $20 or make a secure credit card donation at www.redcross.org.nz.
Lovatts readers have been amazingly generous so I know you will look out for this worthwhile cause.
Happy Easter!
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