The Date For Easter Sunday

 (photo by Hannamaria, Dreamstime.com)

(Kitty's looking for a chocolate mouse in her Easter basket!)

E is for Easter.

Easter Sunday is the day on the Christian calendar that Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It can only occur between March 22 and April 25.  Why?  How is the date for Easter determined?

Easter falls on the first Sunday following the first full moon after March 21.  March 21 is the vernal equinox, or the day on which the length of daylight equals the length of darkness.  The first day of Spring is celebrated on the vernal equinox.

So, First,  vernal equinox (spring), March 21.
      Next, full moon
      Then, Easter Sunday!

The vernal equinox never changes, so Easter can be between March 22 and April 25, depending on the full moon.

The last time Easter fell on March 22 (the earliest possible date) was 1818.  That won't happen again until 2285.  If you are reading this now, you will not, in your life time, ever experience Easter on March 22.

The next time Easter will fall on April 25 (the latest possible date) will be 2038.  Maybe all of us will live to experience Easter in that year.

But we don't have to wait until then for Easter to be later.  This year, 2011, we will celebrate Easter on April 24.

As a Reminder To All

(Photo by Jorgeanton, Dreamstime.com)

Legend has it that 2000 years ago, a tall, strong species of tree grew in the Middle East.  It's thick, straight trunk was sought after by the Romans - the rulers of Jerusalem - for building crosses for executions.

One day an officer of the Roman Court came to the forest and ordered the woodsmen to construct an extra large cross from the best of their trees.  "Make it strong," he said.  "The King of the Jews is to be put to death."  It was soon delivered.

Shortly after the crucifixion of Jesus, the chief woodsman was alarmed to see that all those great trees had begun to whither and die.  In several more years, an amazing transformation had taken place.  The great oak-like dogwood trees were gone and in their place were thousands of flowering bushes with short, twisted trunks.  You see, the once proud forest giant was mortally anguished.

The crucified Jesus in healing pity said, "Never again will you grow large enough to be used for a cross. Henceforth, your trunk will be thin and twisted, with white blossoms having four petals in the shape of a cross.  The outer edge of each petal will show nail prints stained with red, and the center will be like a crown of thorns as a reminder to all."

One thing that is not included in the Legend is that in Autumn, the dogwood produces clusters of blood-red berries, each shaped like a drop of blood!

Smorgasbord of Passion

(Photo by Cleaper, Dreamstime.com)

The beautiful, unusual passion flower!  There are over 600 species so they come in many colors, white, pink, yellow, red, purple, and blue.  Some have edible fruits--passion fruit.

The unusual shape of the passion flower has led to the plant being associated with Christian symbolism with the passion of Jesus.  

There are variations of a legend involving a Jesuit Priest in 1620. He was fascinated with the beauty and had a vision in which parts of the flower were likened to the Crucifixion or Passion of Christ.

The three stamens represent Christ's wounds.  The twelve petals represent the apostles. The purple corona is the crown of thorns, and the stemmed ovary is the Lord's goblet.