Easter Info- Submitted by Sherry

The roots of the word Easter are fairly obscure (possibly from the early English word 'eastre', which was the name of a pagan Spring goddess) but would make an interesting starting point to a discussion on the origins of words. How many words in the English language have their root in another language? From old Viking words (many of which are still in common use in the North East) to words adapted from Latin, French and German. Many words from the Asian sub-continent testify Britain's colonial past.

Most children will, especially younger ones, associate Easter with fun - a time for eggs, cards, gifts and games. The story of the origins of Easter are however interesting and could form the basis for in-depth work on celebrations and traditions within the community.

In some parts of the world Easter is called Pascha, which comes from the Hebrew word for the Passover. The New Testament tells the story of how Jesus was celebrating Passover at the time of his arrest.

In the Christian calendar, Easter is one of the most important festivals of the year, celebrating the resurrection of Christ after his crucifixion. Easter takes place on the first Sunday after the first full moon of Spring. The date of Easter changes every year, but generally falls between March 22nd and April 25th.

For Christians, Easter is traditionally seen as a period of penance and contemplation, punctuated by a series of important spiritual events:

Holy Week. The final week of Lent when Christians recall the events leading up to the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Palm Sunday. When Christians celebrate the story of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.

Maundy Thursday. When Christians remember Jesus' last meal and his arrest.

Good Friday. On this day, many Christian churches hold solemn services (from noon to 3 p.m.) to symbolise the 3 hours of darkness that Jesus endured on the cross, as told in The New Testament.

Holy Saturday. Traditionally a day when newly converted Christians are baptised.

Easter Sunday. When Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. This is traditionally a time of great celebration, and in Catholic communities, gifts are often exchanged.

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Easter History- Submitted by Sherry

Easter traditions are common throughout Europe, and would make an interesting topic of study for children.

In the U.K. and in much of Europe, Easter is traditionally associated with Easter eggs and Easter Bunnies. This association dates back to pre-Christian times when eggs were linked with Spring, fertility and new life. Early Christians later adopted eggs as a symbol of rebirth and renewal. On Easter Day, painted, boiled eggs are still rolled down hills in large, disorganized egg races as a reminder of this Easter theme. Easter egg hunts are also popular; although these days the hidden eggs are likely to be chocolate rather than real ones! Rabbits and lambs are also common Easter symbols in the U.K. and America - both representing the fertility of Spring.

In Greece, hard boiled eggs are painted red to represent the blood of Christ and exchanged as gifts during the Easter period. Children tap the eggs together - one child says "Christ is risen." The other repeats "Truly he is risen." In Germany and Austria, green eggs are exchanged - usually on Maundy Thursday. In Eastern Europe, eggs are often decorated in gold and silver.

In Sweden, Easter is traditionally associated with witches! In more superstitious times, it was believed that witches were particularly active during Easter. Today, Swedish children dress up as hags and visit their neighbours, leaving small decorated Easter letters to be discovered. Hard boiled eggs are traditionally eaten on the evening before Easter Sunday, but are generally not decorated as in the rest of Europe.

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Hunt Hints- Submitted by Patrisha

The Easter egg hunt is one of the most anticipated events of the season. The only disappointing part about this occasion is that it's over so quickly! It doesn't need to be-- this year, let the kids in on the fun of hiding the eggs, not just looking for them. Each child can take a turn hiding the eggs around the house or yard and let the rest of the children look for them. It's an activity that's guaranteed to keep the kids occupied for hours, and prolong the fun of the hunt.

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Easter Bulletin Board Idea- Submitted by Sherry

I got a picture of a large cracked egg and had the children paint them. Some painted them pink, some blue and the others were yellow. I then bought some bunny ears and painted the children's faces like a rabbit and put the bunny ears on them and took their picture. I put those pictures inside the easter egg.

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Easter Bulletin Board An Easter Surprise- Submitted by Sherry

I get the Easter Board ready with a huge bunny sitting in grass (3' tall) sitting next to a huge basket that I make by weaving yellow and green construction paper and cutting it into basket shape. Don't forget a sunshine (mine has a happy face on it) and some clouds. You could cut out the basket from two 12x18 pieces of yellow paper and weave green strips through it. Add chicks around.

condensed milk, white tagboard, q-tips

Cut 2 or three 4 egg shapes out of white tagboard. Color the condensed milk with food coloring The children paint the c. milk with q-tips decorating their eggs in swirls, dots, zig zags. When dry place these eggs in and around the basket. (take a while to dry)

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Countdown To Easter- Submitted by Sherry

Using 12 plastic eggs that can be opened and filled, either you give a basket with all 12 eggs (label each with the number of the day, i.e. Day 12, Day 11), or give one egg each day to be opened. (Day 1 is Easter Day, so start 11 days before Easter with Day 12).

Day 12 = Place a cracker or small piece of cracker inside the first egg with a slip of paper explaining how this symbolizes the bread & wine of the Last Supper. (Putting in the appropriate Bible verse/verses for the contents of each egg would REALLY be neat and SUCH a reinforcing learning tool, too!)

Day 11 = Place 3 dimes to symbolize the 30 pieces of silver that Judus received to betray Jesus.

Day 10 = Place a toy soldier or picture of a soldier to symbolize the soldier who arrested Jesus.

Day 9 = Place a feather to symbolize the cock rooster that crowed 3 times.

Day 8 = Place a die or a couple of dice to symbolize the lots that were cast for Jesus's clothing.

Day 7 = Place a thorn in to symbolize the crown of thorns that Jesus wore.

Day 6 = Place a sponge in to symbolize the sponge that was dipped in vinegar when Jesus said, I thirst.

Day 5 = Place a piece of cloth in to symbolize the cloth that Joseph wrapped the body of Jesus in.

Day 4 = Place a piece of black paper or black cloth into the egg to symbolize the shadow of darkness that covered the Earth.

Day 3 = Place a cross inside to symbolize the cross on which Jesus was crucified.

Day 2 = Place a rock inside the egg to symbolize the stone that was rolled away.

Day 1 = EASTER MORNING! This egg will be empty to symbolize the tomb that was empty, that Jesus was risen !!

... Be sure to write the symbolization description and appropriate Bible verses on slips of paper to go into each of the eggs.

Day 1 -small cracker pieces(represent the Last Supper) -vs Mark14:22

Day2 - feather(represents the Rooster ) Matt 26:33

Day3 - Three silver dimes (30 pieces of silver) Matt 26:14-15

Day4 - Thorns (crown of thorns) Mark 15:17 (I used the thorn of a rose stem)

Day5 - Nail (nails on the cross) Matt27:31

Day6 - a small metal or paper cross (the cross) John19:17-18

Day7 - Dice (casting lots) John 19:23-24

Day8 - Toothpick (spear_ John 19:34

Day9 - White cloth (linen buriel cloth) Matt 27:57-60

Day10- Cinnamon Sticks (buriel spices) mark 16:1

Day11 -Stone(over the mouth of the tomb) Matt 27:62-65

Day12-Empty Egg (the empty tomb) Mark16:5-6

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The Jelly Bean Prayer- Submitted by Sherry

I did this prayer on my computer, then cut them out with Fiskar scissors to give it a nice edge and then had them laminated. Then I punched holes in it, put one jelly bean of each color in a plastic baggie, tied it with ribbon and tied it to the back of the prayer.

Red is for the Blood He Gave.

Green is for the Grass He Made.

Yellow is for the Sun So Bright.

Orange is for the Edge Of Night.

Black is for the Sins We Made.

White is for the Grace He Gave.

Purple is for His Hour Of Sorrow.

Pink is for our New Tomorrow.

A bag full of jelly beans
Colorful and sweet,
Is a prayer,
Is a promise,
Is a special treat.

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Easter Basket Ideas- Submitted by Patrisha

For the gourmet cook in your house, add some packets of exotic spices and herbs, plus a new cookbook and cooking utensils and place it in a new copper pot.

For the bird lover, place some binoculars, a collapsible cup filled with jelly beans and some colorful books on birds into a backpack making a great Easter Nest.

For the handyman, fill a tool belt with essential items like wood glue, nails, measuring tape and Marshmallow Peeps® and Bunnies.

For the Tex-Mex barbecue guy, fill a sombrero with Easter grass and add dried chilis, sun-dried tomatoes, special Tabasco and tortilla chips.

For the teenage girl, replace high calorie chocolate candy with her favorite bath products, new dangle earrings, and gift certificate for the coolest store in the mall.

For the golfer, replace his old white golf balls with bright pastel ones; add some new tees, a colorful new cap, and an appointment for lessons with the golf pro at the club.

For the college student, how about an address book (already filled in with grandma’s address), some stamps, pens, and a selection of funny greeting cards. Oh yes, and don’t forget some extra cash.

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Bulletin Board- Submitted by Cindy

Hippity hoppity! Here comes the Easter bunny with some "eggs-tra" nice eggs. Enlarge, color, and cut out a bunny character and then mount it on a background. Have each child use watercolor paints to paint a large construction paper egg shape. When the paint is dry, cut a circle from the center of each child's egg; then tape a picture of the child to the back. Add the eggs, a border of fringed-paper grass, and a title to your seasonal display.

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