from
Homespun &
Country Kitchen!
Play
"Peter Cottontail"
"Easter Parade"
"He Has Risen!"
Easter
is the holiday of spring, hope, and new life. From
prehistoric times, people everywhere have rejoiced to
welcome spring. The awakening of the earth after its long
winter sleep has been observed with feasting, singing,
dancing and worship.
In America and most European countries, Easter is
traditionally a Christian holiday. On this day,
Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ
from the dead, as it is told in the Bible. This holy day
celebrates the triumph of life over death.
....
You can read the full story, as told in the Gospel,
by clicking on the link below:
The Easter Story
....
Historically, the resurrection of Christ occurred at the
time of the Jewish feast of Passover (called
"Pesach" in Hebrew). In the early years of
Christianity, Jewish Christians observed the resurrection
and Passover together on the 14th day of Nisan, the
Jewish month roughly corresponding with April.
However,
Gentile Christians celebrated the resurrection every
Sunday with a special emphasis on the Sunday closest to
Nisan 14. To settle this difference, at the Nicene
Council in 325 A.D., churchmen fixed the date of Easter
on the first Sunday following the Paschal full moon. This
is the first full moon after the vernal equinox, March
21. This system is still followed today. Therefore,
Easter Sunday moves between March 22 and April 25.
The term "Easter" was first used when
Christianity was introduced to the Saxons. Prior to this
time the Saxons had held an annual feast in honor of the
ancient Teutonic goddess of spring, Eostre. The name was
transferred to the Christian observance of Christ's
resurrection.
People of many lands and languages have given names to
the celebration of spring. Through the years a great
assortment of customs and traditions have developed. As
people have emigrated, their customs have blended with
native observances, till now the arrival of spring is
acknowledged in a multitude of ways. But wherever and
however Easter is kept, it is universally a joyous, happy
day!
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The Gospel In Song - Handel's "Messiah"
Midis and Oratorio
"On the 13th April, 1742, the music hall in Dublin resounded to the applause of an enthusiastic audience. For the first time in history, the great musical oratorio, Messiah, had been presented; and the conductor on that occasion, was none other than the composer himself, George Frederick Handel. Since then, it has been rendered time and again, in all parts of the world, and thousands of people have sat enthralled by the majestic choruses, and moving solos, of this wonderful oratorio."
-----
from
Mary Ann of Homespun
and
from Dennis of Homespun
"The Twelve
Voices of Easter"
"This RealAudio and visual drama written by
Dr. Woodrow Kroll and Keith Ghormley will
enrich your understanding of Easter.
'The Twelve Voices of Easter' is best experienced with
the RealAudio plug-in
and a modem speed of 28.8 or faster."
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Links 
Days
of Easter
Egg
Decorating
Midis
Recipes
Recipes
- 2
Stories
Stories
- 2
Poems
and Greetings
Crafts
Games
Go back to Homespun-Country Kitchen.
This page was last updated April 17, 2003.
