What really is Easter?

Easter time can be confusing. There are lots of different types of celebrations and rituals that are recognized on or around this day. I have always had a strong curiosity for how human celebrations and religions began. My favorite are the Pagan's. As I study different religions it seems that the Pagan's are borrowed from most often. Their understanding of the sun, moon and stars is how they knew when to sow and when to reap. They knew of the equinox's which told them when the days would start getting longer and shorter and used that knowledge to their advantage. The Pagan's celebrated new life and fertility on the spring equinox with eggs and hares and colored the eggs to celebrate the sun which they called the light of the world. And in December on the winter solstice they mourned the death of the sun then rejoiced when it rose on the third day (Dec. 25th). See what I mean.

I love Easter! We get together with family and friends and hunt for eggs, yes, the adults hunt for eggs. Of course we let the kids go out first and get the obvious ones then it's a free for all. This is no ordinary egg hunt. Three of the eggs have fifty dollar bills in them and there are countless fives, tens and twenties. Some of the eggs have numbers in them which put you in line for the gift exchange. It's so much fun and I haven't even mentioned the food, its a pot luck and we all bring our best dish.

Whatever your belief is I wish you the sunniest, happiest and most colorful Easter ever!!!