In modern times, to date, Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after March 21st.

Easter History

Easter is a Christian Festival that celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. On the third day after Good Friday, the day of his crucifixion, now called Easter Sunday, He rose from the dead. Mourners went to His tomb to collect His body. However, He was not there and they were greeted by an angel who said "He is Risen".

Lights, candles and bonfires

mark celebrations in many countries. Roman Catholics

often put the candles in the church out on

Good Friday and light them again with

the Pascal Candle or Easter Candle, on

Easter Day.

Eggs are a symbol of the new life that returns to nature at Easter Time. The custom of exchanging eggs began long before Easter was celebrated. It was a custom of the Egyptians and the Persians. They exchanged eggs decorated in Spring colors. They believed Earth hatched from an egg which contributed to this custom. Early Christians used red colored eggs to symbolize the Resurrection. In England they began writing messages and dates on their eggs and exchanging them with friends and loved ones. In the 1800's, candied eggs were made. They were open on one end and a scene was put inside. They were used as table centerpieces.

EASTER SYMBOLS Easter eggs & baby chicks-

Eggs and chicks symbolize new life.  Eggs have been a symbol of spring since ancient times.  An egg also is a symbol of the rock tomb out of which Christ emerged when he arose again.  The chick, hatching out of the egg, symbolizes new life or re-birth.

Easter bunny- The rabbit, or hare, was a symbol of abundant new life in ancient times, and reminds us of spring and new life.

The lamb-  Represents Jesus, "the Lamb of God."

• Dying Easter eggs- Exchanging and eating Easter eggs is a popular custom in many countries.  The eggs are hard-boiled and dyed in colors and patterns.

• Egg Hunts- In many countries, children hunt for Easter eggs hidden in the home or yard

The cross - Symbolizes Jesus' victory over death.

Candles - Symbolize Jesus, "the light of the world.“

Baby animals- Baby animals born in the spring also represent spring and new life

EASTER SNAKESThe Easter morn was nice and hotAnd Sammy found a sunny spot.The warmth of spring gave him a thrill,For snakes soon tire of winter's chill.

He drifted to sleep, feeling nice,Humming his favorite: Three Blind MiceBut his eyes popped open in a flash,Awakened by a loud sharp crash.

Sammy hurried toward the road,As he approached the edge, he slowed.He looked to the left, then to the right

And there he saw a sad sad sight.A pick up truck had hit a tree.

He thought, "Oh my, who can that be?"But there beneath some colored eggs

Were four cute furry rabbit legs.

He quickly thought, "What rotten luck, The Easter Bunny crashed his truck.“The bunny laid there deathly still.Sam gently handled him with skill,For he had taken Snake First Aid.There was no breath, Sam was dismayed,This clearly was a situationFor mouth to mouth rehissatation.When the hissing was appliedThe bunny gurgled, then he cried.And as he sobbed he turned aroundTo see the eggs spread on the ground.He screamed, "Oh, look at what I've done,The kids will have no Easter fun.Yes, I can hear them as they frown," The Easter Bunny let us down.' "

"The windshield on my truck is shattered.

About the road my eggs are scattered.

This Easter Day will be the worst

For children's hearts are soon to burst.

He looked at Sam with great surprise,

As great confusion filled his eyes

And then he said as strangers do

"I'm Easter bunny who are you?“

"I'm Sammy snake," he heard Sam say.

"I know this is your special day.

I'm here to help you now you'll see.

I bet you'd do the same for me."

Sammy said, "We'll start like this!"He turned and gave a screeching hiss.Across the fields they sensed a bustleAnd then the weeds began to rustle.

Then suddenly, all standing thereWere Sammy's friends from everywhere.There was Dusty Red, the Copperhead,A Timber Rattler known as Fred,

The Garter triplets--a peaceful trio. Al, the Asp and his brother, Leo. Vick the Viper and the Boa Brothers, Joined Cool Carl Cobra and the others.

"The Easter Bunny is out of commission We snakes now have an Easter mission. When our morning work's complete Each child will have an Easter treat."

"Go home and bring your pull carts backWhile I roll the eggs into a stack.Then each of you can fill your cartAnd divide the work, each do his part."

With wiggles, hisses and rolling eyes,They all agreed with proud snake sighs.Then they slid off into the weedsFor these snakes liked to do good deeds.

They hurried back, the carts were filled,Real carefully, no eggs were spilled.They headed out to the girls and boys,These Easter Snakes with Easter joys.

From time to time each one would hear,"Why, it's an Easter SNAKE this year!"They worked real hard and soon were doneAnd all agreed it was great fun.

The bunny then was put to bedWith a nice warm cloth upon his head.A big long splint sure made it clear:The Easter Bunny broke one ear.

Sam came to visit the very next day.He brought the bunny a carrot bouquet.The bunny told him, "Thank you, Sam.I'd like to show how pleased I am.

"I'm healing now and when I'm throughI'll teach the bunny hop to you."He did and, wow, it takes the cake,To see a "bunny hopping" snake.

This story now comes to its endSammy Snake has a brand new friendAnd found one thing that life's about:It's nice to help each other out.

THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT

Once upon a time there were four little Rabbits, and their names were, Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail, and Peter. They lived with their Mother in a sand-bank, underneath the root of a very big fir tree. "Now, my dears," said old Mrs. Rabbit one morning, "you may go into the fields or down the lane, but don't go into Mr. McGregor's garden: your Father had an accident there; he was put in a pie by Mrs. McGregor." "Now run along, and don't get into mischief. I am going out." Then old Mrs. Rabbit took a basket and her umbrella, to the baker's. She bought a loaf of brown bread and five currant buns. Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail, who were good little bunnies, went down the lane to gather blackberries; But Peter, who was very naughty, ran straight away to Mr. McGregor's garden and squeezed under the gate!

First he ate some lettuces and some French beans; and then he ate some radishes; And then, feeling rather sick, he went to look for some parsley. But 'round the end of a cucumber frame, whom should he meet but Mr. McGregor!

Mr. McGregor was on his hands and knees planting out young cabbages, but he jumped up and ran after Peter, waving a rake and calling out, "Stop thief!" Peter was most dreadfully frightened; he rushed all over the garden, for he had forgotten the way back to the gate. He lost one of his shoes among the cabbages, and the other shoe amongst the potatoes. After losing them, he ran on four legs and went faster, so that I think he might have got away altogether if he had not unfortunately run into a gooseberry net, and got caught by the large buttons on his jacket. It was a blue jacket with brass buttons, quite new. Peter gave himself up for lost, and shed big tears; but his sobs were overheard by some friendly sparrows, who flew to him in great excitement, and implored him to exert himself. Mr. McGregor came up with a sieve, which he intended to pop upon the top of Peter; but Peter wriggled out just in time, leaving his jacket behind him. And rushed into the toolshed, and jumped into a can. It would have been a beautiful thing to hide in, if it had not had so much water in it.

Mr. McGregor was quite sure that Peter was somewhere in the toolshed, perhaps hidden underneath a flower-pot. He began to turn them over carefully, looking under each.Presently Peter sneezed, "Kertyschoo!" Mr. McGregor was after him in no time, And tried to put his foot upon Peter, who jumped out of a window, upsetting three plants. The window was too small for Mr. McGregor, and he was tired of running after Peter. He went back to his work. Peter sat down to rest; he was out of breath and trembling with fright, and he had not the least idea which way to go. Also he was very damp with sitting in that can. After a time he began to wander about, going lippity, lippity - not very fast, and looking all around. He found a door in a wall; but it was locked, and there was no room for a fat little rabbit to squeeze underneath.

An old mouse was running in and out over the stone doorstep, carrying peas and beans to her family in the wood. Peter asked her the way to the gate, but she had such a large pea in her mouth that she could not answer. She only shook her head at him. Peter began to cry. Then he tried to find his way straight across the garden, but he became more and more puzzled. Presently, he came to a pond where Mr. McGregor filled his water-cans. A white cat was staring at some gold-fish; she sat very, very still, but now and then the tip of her tail twitched as if it were alive. Peter thought it best to go away without speaking to her; he had heard about cats from his cousin, little Benjamin Bunny.

He went back towards the tool-shed, but suddenly, quite close to him, he heard the noise of a hoe .. scr-r-ritch, scratch, scratch, scritch. Peter scuttered underneath the bushes. But presently, as nothing happened, he came out, and climbed upon a wheelbarrow, and peeped over. The first thing he saw was Mr. McGregor hoeing onions. His back was turned towards Peter, and beyond him was the gate! Peter got down very quietly off the wheelbarrow, and started running as fast as he could go, along a straight walk behind some black-currant bushes. Mr. McGregor caught sight of him at the corner, but Peter did not care. He slipped underneath the gate, and was safe at last in the wood outside the garden. Mr. McGregor hung up the little jacket and the shoes for a scarecrow to frighten the blackbirds.

Peter never stopped running or looked behind him till he got home to the big fir tree. He was so tired that he flopped down upon the nice soft sand on the floor of the rabbit-hole, and shut his eyes.His mother was busy cooking; she wondered what he had done with his clothes. It was the second little jacket and pair of shoes that Peter had lost in a fortnight!His mother put him to bed, and made some chamomile tea, and she gave a dose of it to Peter! I am sorry to say that Peter was not very well during the evening.

"One table-spoonful to be taken at bed-time."

But Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail had bread and milk and blackberries, for supper.

THE END

EASTER JOKES AND RIDDLESQ. Why was the Easter Bunny so

upset? A.  He was having a bad hare day! Q.  How does the Easter bunny keep

his fur neat?A.  With a hare-brush! Q.  What kind of books do rabbits

like?A.   Ones with hoppy endings!Q.  What do you call a dumb bunny?A.   A hare-brain!Q. Why shouldn't you tell an Easter

egg a good joke?A.  It might crack up!

Q.  Why does the Easter bunny have a shiny nose?

A.  Because the powder puff is on the other end!

Q.  How did the soggy Easter Bunny dry himself?

A.  With a hare dryer! Q.  How does a rabbit keep his fur

looking good?A.   With hare spray! Q.  What did the rabbits do after

their wedding?A.   They went on a bunnymoon! Q.  What did one colored egg say to

the other?A.  "Heard any good yolks lately?"

Q.  What's yellow, has long ears, and grows on trees?

A.  The Easter Bunana! Q.  How do you catch the Easter Bunny?

A.  Hide in the bushes and make a noise like a carrot! Q.  How do you make a rabbit stew?

A.   Make it wait for 3 hours!Q.  How many chocolate bunnies can you put into

an empty Easter basket?A.  Only one- after that, it's not empty!Q.  A man wanted an Easter pet for his daughter.

He looked at a baby chick and a baby duck. They were both very cute, but he decided to buy the baby chick. Do you know why?

A.  The baby chick was a little cheeper! (cheaper)

Q.  Why did the Easter egg hide?

A.  He was a little chicken! Q.  What's a rabbit's

favorite dance?A.  The bunny hop! Q.  What do you call a

rabbit that tells good jokes?

A.   A funny bunny!

CHOCOLATE RABBITI got a chocolate rabbitFor an Easter treat,A great big chocolate rabbit,Good enough to eat.So I ate his ears on Sunday,his nose I finished Monday,Tuesday I nibbled on his feet.I ate his tail on Wednesday,Thursday I kept on,By Friday he was going,Saturday he was gone.Oh, I loved that chocolate rabbit,From the moment that he came,And if I get another one,I'll love him just the same.

THE EASTER PARADEIn your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it,You'll be the grandest lady in the Easter Parade.I'll be all in clover and when they look you over,I'll be the proudest fellow in the Easter Parade.On the avenue, Fifth Avenue, the photographers will snap us,And you'll find that you're in the rotogravure.Oh, I could write a sonnet about your Easter bonnet,And of the girl I'm taking to the Easter Parade.

HERE COMES PETER COTTONTAIL

Here comes Peter Cottontail,Hoppin' down the bunny trail,Hippity, hoppity,Easter's on its way.

Bringing every girl and boy baskets full of Easter joy,Things to make your Easter bright and gay.He's got jelly beans for Tommy,Colored eggs for sister Sue,There's an orchid for your MommyAnd an Easter bonnet, too.

Oh! here comes Peter Cottontail,Hoppin' down the bunny trail,Hippity hoppity,Happy Easter day.

Here comes Peter Cottontail,Hoppin' down the bunny trail,Look at him stop, and listen to him say:"Try to do the things you should."Maybe if you're extra good,He'll roll lots of Easter eggs your way.

You'll wake up on Easter morningAnd you'll know that he was thereWhen you find those chocolate bunniesThat he's hiding everywhere.

Oh! here comes Peter Cottontail,Hoppin' down the bunny trail,Hippity hoppity,Happy Easter day!

EASTER TONGUE TWISTERS

• 1.  Busy bunnies bring blue baskets.

• 2. Each Easter, Eddie eats eighty eggs.

• 3. Six peeping chicks cheeping cheerily.

• 4. Jogging jellybeans joke and giggle,    jogging jellybeans jump and jiggle.

• 5. Run, Red Rabbit, run!