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From Our Sponsors: More Stress Relievers in our Fun 'N Games room	*FEATURES FOR SINGLES:* Renew Yourself This Easter The history, tradition and meaning of Easter By Richard Mark Ebert For the single person coping with life, often on your own, the idea of having a true, forgiving and loving friend with them at all times, in all situations and for eternity is invaluable. Of course, Easter commemorates the resurrection of this friend, savior and Son of God, Jesus Christ. Incorrectly, I had always thought that Easter had started as a Christian holiday that dated back to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Well, I was wrong. In fact, it wasn’t until sometime in the later half of the 1800’s before Easter was widely celebrated in the United States. According to Wilstar.com, Easter was both a Saxon and a pagan holiday that celebrated the beginning of spring. A festival of renewal you might say. In addition, the original holiday had no religious connotations whatsoever. Wilstar.com goes on to claim that the name Easter had apparently been derived from a Saxon goddess, Eastre, who was known for springtime and offspring. So how did Eastre become Easter, as we know it today? It turns out that the early spring was also the time that a Christian celebration marked the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As Christians traveled into the northern regions of Europe, early in the first millennium (approximately 200-300 AD), they desired to introduce Christianity to the people of these areas. The Saxons were one of these groups of people, but they like many other groups, already had their traditions. We know from our own experiences that it’s not always easy to introduce something new to someone. In addition, due to the historic persecution of Christians, it could have been most dangerous for early Christians to directly introduce their religious beliefs and observances to these populations. So, in what was probably a very wise strategy, the Christians gradually and covertly introduced their holidays to the local population. In the case of Easter, the springtime Christian celebration of Christ’s resurrection was eventually introduced through the Saxon celebration of Eastre. In time, the name was switched from Eastre to Easter. Now, until AD 325 there was no established day for the celebration of Easter. This changed when, Constantine, the first Emperor of Rome to convert to Christianity, had proclaimed a somewhat involved formula for establishing the date for the celebration of Easter. Its criteria is as follows: The first Sunday that occurs after the first ecclesiastical full moon. a. Full Moon: When the moon is fully illuminated. b. The ecclesiastical full moon: The 14^th day of a tabular lunation. c. Lunation: Period between two New Moons where day 1 corresponds to the ecclesiastical New Moon. d. New Moon: A fully darkened moon. …and, On, or after, the ecclesiastical Vernal (spring) Equinox (One of two times of the year when the Sun tracks across the equator. On these two days, both day and night are of equal length.) Note: This is always March 21^st. As a result, the date of the Easter celebration migrates from year-to-year and occurs on a Sunday between March 22^nd and April 25^th. As for the rabbit and the egg, symbols associated with the Easter celebration, they date back to the original non-religious pagan, or Saxon, festivals of spring. The rabbit being associated with fertility and the gifting of decorated eggs a centuries old springtime tradition. As far as I can tell, in regards to Easter, the egg came before the rabbit and not the other way around. There, you have an answer to the age long question, "What came first, the rabbit, or the egg?" Speaking of Eggs, did you know that the infamous White House Easter egg roll did not start at the residence of the first family? The web site, "Easter at the White House" says that the tradition of the egg roll seems to have started while Andrew Johnson was President. For the most part though, it didn’t take place on the White House grounds, but at the grounds of the United States Capitol. It’s even been reported that the President’s grandson, Andrew Johnson Patterson, told stories of painting eggs on Sunday morning and he, along with many other children, then rolling them on the Capitols grounds on Monday morning. Apparently, in 1876 the popular egg roll had damaged some shrubbery and grass on the Capitol’s lawn. Subsequently, a group of anti-egg-rolling lawmakers…probably the precursor to the Sierra Club…targeted these young non-voters, banning the Capitol from being used as a playground. What meanies they must have been. Huh, it seems to me that many of today’s representatives have never even heard of this No playing around in the Capitol law. Fortunately, the cavalry came to the rescue. One day, In 1878, while President Rutherford B. Hayes, was taking a walk, he was confronted by a gang of egg rollers who had no place to roll their eggs. The children asked the President if they could roll their eggs on the South Lawn of the White House. Those future constituents quickly won over the smiling President as pro-egg-roll and upon his return to the White House, he issued an official order to allow any egg rollers to use the South Lawn for their activity. Through the years, decades and numerous Presidential administrations, the White House egg roll has evolved into a veritable egg roll Olympics that now includes: Egg Picking, Egg Ball, Egg Toss & Catch and Egg Croquet. I guess that Egg Tennis didn’t make it. Lastly, the greatest aspect of Easter is the selfless act of Jesus Christ and his gift to humanity. In a world turned on its head: wealth, position, power, possessions, education, strength, and connections supposedly lead to a full, contented, peaceful and happy life. Too often, people that have these things are accompanied by characteristics, attributes and habits that are destructive to themselves, and/or others. On the contrary, Jesus Christ told us that that he loves us regardless of whom we are, where we are in life and what we’ve done. He accepts us right now as we are. What greater offer of friendship could a person ask for? His forgiveness of our sins and offer of eternal salvation are the most precious gifts that a human being could ever hope to be offered and ever hope to be given and Jesus Christ, the son of God, is the only way to receive that gift. Remember this, Easter is a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a springtime chance for starting over, renewal, recommitment and making friends. For the single person, and all others, Christ states, "I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in." (Revelation 3:20) http://www.holidays.net/easter/story.htm http://wilstar.com/holidays/easter.htm http://clinton4.nara.gov/WH/glimpse/Easter/

Singles
The Magazine for Today's Single

From Our Sponsors:

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Renew Yourself This Easter
The history, tradition and meaning of Easter

By Richard Mark Ebert

For the single person coping with life, often on your own, the idea of having a true, forgiving and loving friend with them at all times, in all situations and for eternity is invaluable. Of course, Easter commemorates the resurrection of this friend, savior and Son of God, Jesus Christ.

Incorrectly, I had always thought that Easter had started as a Christian holiday that dated back to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Well, I was wrong. In fact, it wasn’t until sometime in the later half of the 1800’s before Easter was widely celebrated in the United States.

According to Wilstar.com, Easter was both a Saxon and a pagan holiday that celebrated the beginning of spring. A festival of renewal you might say.

In addition, the original holiday had no religious connotations whatsoever. Wilstar.com goes on to claim that the name Easter had apparently been derived from a Saxon goddess, Eastre, who was known for springtime and offspring.

So how did Eastre become Easter, as we know it today? It turns out that the early spring was also the time that a Christian celebration marked the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As Christians traveled into the northern regions of Europe, early in the first millennium (approximately 200-300 AD), they desired to introduce Christianity to the people of these areas.

The Saxons were one of these groups of people, but they like many other groups, already had their traditions. We know from our own experiences that it’s not always easy to introduce something new to someone. In addition, due to the historic persecution of Christians, it could have been most dangerous for early Christians to directly introduce their religious beliefs and observances to these populations.

So, in what was probably a very wise strategy, the Christians gradually and covertly introduced their holidays to the local population. In the case of Easter, the springtime Christian celebration of Christ’s resurrection was eventually introduced through the Saxon celebration of Eastre. In time, the name was switched from Eastre to Easter.

Now, until AD 325 there was no established day for the celebration of Easter. This changed when, Constantine, the first Emperor of Rome to convert to Christianity, had proclaimed a somewhat involved formula for establishing the date for the celebration of Easter. Its criteria is as follows:

The first Sunday that occurs after the first ecclesiastical full moon.

a. Full Moon: When the moon is fully illuminated.
b. The ecclesiastical full moon: The 14^th day of a tabular lunation.
c. Lunation: Period between two New Moons where day 1 corresponds to the ecclesiastical New Moon.
d. New Moon: A fully darkened moon.

…and,

On, or after, the ecclesiastical Vernal (spring) Equinox (One of two times of the year when the Sun tracks across the equator. On these two days, both day and night are of equal length.) Note: This is always March 21^st.

As a result, the date of the Easter celebration migrates from year-to-year and occurs on a Sunday between March 22^nd and April 25^th.

As for the rabbit and the egg, symbols associated with the Easter celebration, they date back to the original non-religious pagan, or Saxon, festivals of spring. The rabbit being associated with fertility and the gifting of decorated eggs a centuries old springtime tradition.

As far as I can tell, in regards to Easter, the egg came before the rabbit and not the other way around. There, you have an answer to the age long question, "What came first, the rabbit, or the egg?"

Speaking of Eggs, did you know that the infamous White House Easter egg roll did not start at the residence of the first family?

The web site, "Easter at the White House" says that the tradition of the egg roll seems to have started while Andrew Johnson was President. For the most part though, it didn’t take place on the White House grounds, but at the grounds of the United States Capitol.

It’s even been reported that the President’s grandson, Andrew Johnson Patterson, told stories of painting eggs on Sunday morning and he, along with many other children, then rolling them on the Capitols grounds on Monday morning. Apparently, in 1876 the popular egg roll had damaged some shrubbery and grass on the Capitol’s lawn.

Subsequently, a group of anti-egg-rolling lawmakers…probably the precursor to the Sierra Club…targeted these young non-voters, banning the Capitol from being used as a playground. What meanies they must have been. Huh, it seems to me that many of today’s representatives have never even heard of this No playing around in the Capitol law.

Fortunately, the cavalry came to the rescue. One day, In 1878, while President Rutherford B. Hayes, was taking a walk, he was confronted by a gang of egg rollers who had no place to roll their eggs. The children asked the President if they could roll their eggs on the South Lawn of the White House.

Those future constituents quickly won over the smiling President as pro-egg-roll and upon his return to the White House, he issued an official order to allow any egg rollers to use the South Lawn for their activity.

Through the years, decades and numerous Presidential administrations, the White House egg roll has evolved into a veritable egg roll Olympics that now includes: Egg Picking, Egg Ball, Egg Toss & Catch and Egg Croquet. I guess that Egg Tennis didn’t make it.

Lastly, the greatest aspect of Easter is the selfless act of Jesus Christ and his gift to humanity. In a world turned on its head: wealth, position, power, possessions, education, strength, and connections supposedly lead to a full, contented, peaceful and happy life. Too often, people that have these things are accompanied by characteristics, attributes and habits that are destructive to themselves, and/or others.

On the contrary, Jesus Christ told us that that he loves us regardless of whom we are, where we are in life and what we’ve done. He accepts us right now as we are. What greater offer of friendship could a person ask for?

His forgiveness of our sins and offer of eternal salvation are the most precious gifts that a human being could ever hope to be offered and ever hope to be given and Jesus Christ, the son of God, is the only way to receive that gift.

Remember this, Easter is a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a springtime chance for starting over, renewal, recommitment and making friends. For the single person, and all others, Christ states, "I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in." (Revelation 3:20)

http://www.holidays.net/easter/story.htm

http://wilstar.com/holidays/easter.htm

http://clinton4.nara.gov/WH/glimpse/Easter/