Easter seems so early this year. How is the date determined?
Easter is a moveable feast, meaning it changes depending on several factors. The Church Council of Nicea 325 A.D., determined that it would occur after the full moon following the vernal (Spring) equinox (which means equal night and daylight hours) on the following Sunday. If that happened to be to close to the Jewish holiday Passover, the next Sunday is chosen. So, it can occur anytime between March 22 and April 25. Sources: history.com
The notion of an egg-laying bunny seems to have come to America with German immigrants who came to Pennsylvania during the 1700’s. Children made nests of colored straw for the eggs. www.history.com/topics/holidays/easter-symbols
The rest of the world practices Easter rituals in equally creative ways. In Hungary and Poland men throw water over women’s heads and then ask for a kiss. (I wonder how this would go over in New York!) This seems to relate to baptism rituals, mixed with Spring fertility rites.
In Bermuda, on Good Friday, locals fly kites, seemingly in honor of the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ into Heaven.
In Corfu it may be dangerous to stand on the street on Holy Saturday. It is traditional to throw pots and pans out the window, possibly mirroring the ancient Venetian custom of getting rid of old items on New Year’s Day.
The French town of Haux prepares a giant omelet made of 4,500 eggs, a tradition started after Napoleon enjoyed an omelet there and ordered a giant omelette prepared for his army. The omelette pan large enough must fill the town square! http://www.newsweek.com/10-bunny-free-easter-traditions-around-world-439524
In the U.S., not only do we decorate eggs and hide them, we go into sugar shock doing it. 16 billion jelly beans are purchased and 90 billion chocolate bunnies are made. And, by the way, 76% of Americans say you should eat the ears first. https://www.google.com/search?q=how+much+chocolate+is+consumed+on+easter&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8
If you have sugar shock from Easter goodies, and you can’t fit into your Easter outfit the following week, or if you get sleepy in the afternoons or experience energy highs and lows, stop by for our Blood Sugar Balancing Cleanse Program. In two weeks you can conquer those sugar cravings, improve your energy and sleep, feel sharper and more stable, and even drop a few pounds.
Cleansing in the Springtime is a centuries old Health tradition. Spring fever hits when the trees are budding and you are feeling frisky, so regard this as a great time to get rid of the old toxins and give your body a healthy nutritional boost.
Happy Easter, Happy Passover, Happy Spring! May you feel renewed in body, mind and spirit.