by Paul Arinaga

There’s a lot of controversy about the true meaning of Easter. Some claim that it’s actually a pagan celebration in origin. Others lament that retailers, greeting card companies and television are changing Christianity’s greatest feast into something with meaning “the size of a jelly bean.”

In any case, the most common view about the real meaning of Easter is that it’s a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and that through this act, sin and death are conquered. Easter also can be seen as a season of joy. The time of sorrow is over. Lent’s penitential forty days have passed, and the fifty days of the Easter season have begun. Winter is over and spring is in the air. In times past, it’s said that priests would regale their parishioners with funny stories. Easter was truly a time to rejoice. To rejoice that Our Lord has Risen and that one day we too shall pass through death (which has lost its sting) and rise to New Life!

While I am certainly not erudite enough to give you the definitive answer on what Easter means. I believe that it offers many valuable insights about life, no matter what your religious beliefs. In fact, the Easter story is so powerful that it probably offers something even to an open-minded atheist!

One of the biggest lessons from the Easter story, I believe, is the power of forgiveness. Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions about what forgiveness actually is. In my opinion, it doesn’t mean condoning the wrong that has been committed or allowing it to happen again. Moreover, the act of forgiving is not necessarily something you do for the transgressor (although it can be), although its power can transform the transgressor, too. It is something you may do for yourself.

When you can forgive, you can finally be free of the burden of guilt, anger, hatred or resentment. The healing process can begin or finally conclude. You can also let go of the person who hurt you. This makes you stronger and removes the power that person has over you. It’s somehow ironic that by not forgiving we allow the person who has harmed us to continue to harm us, even if they themselves are unaware of the long-term damage that is being inflicted. Of course, ultimately, we are responsible. By taking responsibility now for our own interpretation of what happened in the past, we become much stronger – I think that’s what people mean when they talk about “self-empowerment”.

Teaching children the power of forgiveness is both difficult and easy. It’s difficult because forgiveness is an advanced skill that can take a lifetime to master, and because there’s so much confusion about what it actually means to forgive. It’s easy because children often have fewer pre-conceived notions and see life more clearly than adults do. I’m always struck by how children seem more pragmatic and matter-of-fact than adults.

So, how can you teach something as sophisticated as forgiveness? I like to use children’s stories to explore difficult themes like forgiveness. It’s easier to understand forgiveness through the lens of other people or even other creatures. Once you understand what the characters in the child story are going through, you can relate it back to your own life or situation.

You can use the choices made by different characters or their attitudes as a jumping off point for a general discussion of forgiveness. If you really want to be systematic about it, you can use an appropriate children’s story in conjunction with scripture and a list of prepared questions (a kind of teaching or discussion guide).

I’m not sure whether forgiveness is the main lesson of the Easter story or even a primary message from it. But I am sure that it is a valuable one. And I’m also certain that if we can teach our children how to forgive, that they will be more productive – and happier – human beings.

Copyright 2006 Paul Arinaga

by Kingston Amadan

Easter is such a special time of year. I can recall fond memories of Easters past when my mother and father would hide brightly colored eggs in the yard and send my sisters and I out to find them. What joy we had running around the yard, looking in every nook and cranny for the eggs we had hand decorated together as a family. As I recall, whoever found the most always received a special gift, usually a dollar or two. That was a lot of money to us kids in those days. After the hunt, we would eat dinner together and then my parents would give each of us an Easter basket.

They were smart to make sure we had dinner first, knowing full well that we would never touch our food if we were given the baskets beforehand. I can still recall the happiness we shared, eating our chocolates, jelly beans, marshmallow candies and other sweet treats. I think I always enjoyed digging through the plastic green “grass” the most. It was like discovering gold to dig through the basket and find one of the last few treats which had fallen to the bottom.

Today, I get just as much enjoyment from watching my children having the same fun I had as a child. It’s wonderful to view the next generation enjoying the traditions of the past that still remain so much part of our culture. Today, however, I give Easter gift baskets to my children, my siblings, and close friends every year at this time. They’re wonderful for the kids and the adults all appreciate them as well since, like me, they remember the joy of getting an Easter basket. Easter gift baskets are filled with delectable treats that both children and adults can enjoy.

I order enough for my friends and family and my extended family as well since Easter gift baskets can be shipped anywhere. I find that they make a great gift for kids or for the kid in all of us. This year, I may even order one for myself. I may be older, but I still have a sweet tooth!

About the Author

To purchase a Easter gift basket visit http://www.giftbasketontheweb.com/

by Josh Grossman

Flowers play an important role during Easter time. Lily plants can be found on the altar and in many homes, with the beautiful trumpet-shaped white flowers symbolizing purity, virtue, innocence, hope and life – the spiritual essence of Easter. But, few people know how these flowers came to play their part for the holiday.

Easter lilies are native to the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan, and the islands of Okinawa, Amani and Erabu. It was referred to in an old Japanese gardening book, which was published in 1681, and a drawing of the lily can be found in another old gardening book published in 1719. The flowers were introduced to England in 1819. In 1853 a Japanese missionary gave it to a friend in St. George, Bermuda who later marketed it. The Bermuda Lily was introduced to America in 1880, but a severe virus in 1898 ruined the Bermuda lily industry. Lily bulb production came to the U.S. in the late 1800s, and was centered in both Japan and the southern U.S. after 1898. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, the Japanese source of bulbs was cut off. As a result, the value of lily bulbs greatly increased and many people who were growing lilies as a hobby went into business. The Easter Lily bulbs at that time were called “White Gold,” and growers everywhere attempted to cash in on the crop. By 1945, there were around 1,200 growers up and down the Pacific coast, from Vancouver, Canada to Long Beach, California. Over the years, the number of Easter Lily bulb producers diminished to just ten farms in an isolated coastal region on the Oregon-California border called the Easter Lily Capital of the World.

Lilies themselves can be found mentioned prominently in the Bible. When Eve left the Garden of Eden she shed real tears of repentance, and from those remorseful tears sprung up lilies. Often called the “white-robed apostles of hope” lilies were also found growing in the Garden of Gethsemane after Christ’s crucifixtion. White lilies are said to have sprung up where drops of Christ’s sweat fell to the ground from the cross. Traditionally, Easter Lilies are arranged in churches, to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In most Catholic countries, white lilies are dedicated to Mary, and have been a symbol of purity since the 12th century. In early paintings, the Angel Gabriel is pictured giving the Virgin Mary a branch of pure white lilies, announcing that she is to be the mother of the Christ Child. In other paintings, saints are shown bringing vases of white lilies to Mary and the baby Jesus. It is said that when Mary’s tomb was opened to show Thomas that her body had been assumed into heaven, it was filled with these flowers. Lilies became the emblem of the Annunciation, the white petals signifying her body and the golden anthers her soul. The flower is also associated with St. Catherine, who converted her pagan father to Christianity when the previously scentless lily produced a wonderful perfume.

One of the greatest challenges for Easter lily producers today is to get all the plants to bloom at the same time and just in time for Easter! This is especially difficult because Easter comes at a different date each year. Growers measure the progress of Easter lilies every day. They look for certain signs of development, such as when the first flower buds appear, the number of new leaves that unfold everyday, and the height of the plants. These progressions determine whether or not the plants will be ready for sale at just the right time. For example, by counting the leaves on each plant, growers can predict how many days until that plant will flower. If the plants are growing too slowly, or too fast, the grower must adjust the humidity and temperature of the greenhouse. If some plants develop faster than others, those plants may have to be placed in a cooler until the other plants catch up.

Nowadays, other flowers have come to be associated with Easter, such as tulips, iris, gerbera, and even roses. Generally spring time colors such as yellow and orange are popular. You can even send flowers online with websites such as http://ww.beyondblossoms.com for a hand-tied Easter bouquet.

About the Author

Josh Grossman is cofounder of online florist Beyond Blossoms (http://www.beyondblossoms.com). The company’s mission is to let customers buy flowers and send flowers fresh from the farms at low prices and with great designs.

by Margaret Rench

Easter is right around the corner. Soon the kids will be out of school for spring break. Prepare yourself for their cries of “I’m bored” by having some craft projects planned. Here are some easy to make and fun crafting projects to keep them busy.

Bubble Photo Frames:
Supplies needed: a short wide mouth cup, dish detergent, water, food coloring, paper photo frames, a straw.

You can find paper photo frames in the scrap-booking section of any craft store and some grocery stores. Fill the cup with water and add a drop or two of dish detergent. Color the water with food coloring. Blow into the water using the straw until bubbles form and start overflowing the cup. Press the photo frame lightly into the bubbles and pull it away. You now have some nice designs transfered to the frame from the bubbles. Continue the process until you have the frame coated in a pleasing way. You can use more than one color on the frame by making cups with different colors in them.

Grass Basket:
Supplies needed: basket with plastic liner, potting soil, rye-grass seed, gravel, charcoal(optional)

Line the bottom of the basket with the gravel this allows for drainage. Add a layer of charcoal on top of the gravel. The charcoal keeps things fresh smelling in case of over watering. Put your topsoil into the basket up to about 1/2 from the rim. Sprinkle the grass seed liberally onto the soil. Top the grass seed with a sprinkling of topsoil, just enough to cover the seeds. Sprinkle water onto the soil and keep moist. Set the basket into a sunny warm area away from drafts. Rye grass seed usually sprouts in 4-7 days. When the grass gets taller than one inch, you can trim it back with scissors. If you start the project early enough, you will have a nice basket to lay Easter eggs into for Easter.

Indoor Basketball:
Supplies needed: styrofoam cup, tissues, tape, scissors

Cut the bottom out of the styrofoam cup. This is your basket. Tape it to the wall, onto a door or on the side of a bookcase. Wad up some tissues to use as your basketball. You might make three per person. Each person gets three tries at making a basket. If you make a basket you get a point. Play until someone gets 25 points.

For more fun crafts visit Easter Crafts
About the Author

Margaret Rench is the webmaster of Theme Party Palace. A mother of two and grandmother of one. They have taught me the joy of parties.

What’s in your Easter Basket? Marshmallow Peeps, Cadbury Eggs, chocolate bunnies and Jelly Beans? These are some of the more popular and traditional Easter goodies that are often found in Easter Baskets these days. However, with the world turning its attention to health matters and improved eating habits, this Easter tradition of sweets and treats may be on the verge of change.

This is especially true for parents attempting to instill healthy eating practices in their children; thus leaving many parents in a dilemma…what shall we put in their Easter Baskets? Fortunately, there are several options available that will still provoke smiles and giggles of happiness from your little ones.

The simple and quick solution is to substitute chocolate and sugar filled goodies with more healthy snacks. Any grocery story has a variety of foods to choose from including peanuts, granola bars, fruit snacks, fresh fruit, graham crackers, peanut butter filled crackers, fig cookies, and the list goes on.

In addition to healthy snacks, there are other items that you could incorporate into the Easter Basket to make it fun. Look for some Easter-themed activity books, coloring books and story books for kids. They will surely enjoy having something fun and entertaining to do during the holiday.

Don’t forget the traditional stuffed bunny! Or try something different by finding a stuffed duckling or baby chick. There are several Easter or Spring theme stuffed animals to choose from out in retail world.

You may also find fun Easter theme toys, such as small wind up animals and stickers. Another fun idea, especially if you get an activity book, are Easter theme pencils and erasers. You may even find crayons or markers in bright Spring colors.

If you still have room in that Easter Basket, cute clothing is always a winner. Whether it is Easter theme or just designed with Spring colors, buying clothing is fun and serves a wonderful purpose. Clothing that is rolled tightly and tied off with a colorful ribbon can fit into a small space and makes a nice presentation.

There are many ways to celebrate the holiday and fill the traditional Easter Basket without contributing to a sugar overdose. Have an open mind and let the ideas take form. Do some shopping at the local grocery store and see what you can come up with. Easter is busy time for retailers and many have had their items out since Valentine’s Day. Shop around, be creative, and let’s try to keep our kids healthy without missing out on the fun!

About the Author: Elizabeth Smith is owner of the gift shop Crafty Gift Creations. For interesting gift giving ideas and much more, visit her blog Topics, Tips and Tangents.