April 19, 2014 In art, design, life and the universe, peace, philosophy By Patricia Saxton

A Moveable Feast (of Eggs, Baskets and Bunnies)

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Way back in the year 325 AD, it was decreed by First Council of Nicaea that Easter would fall on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the March equinox. As a result, there is no fixed date, but rather a “moveable” one for this high Christian holiday.

And I imagine it’s considered a moveable “feast” because the holiday season is actually quite long, when you take into account the observances of the 40 days of Lent, Holy Thursday, Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter itself, followed by a fifty-day period of Eastertide, ending with Pentecost Sunday. Interesting.

Also interesting is the fact that Easter and Passover not only coincide, but in many languages the word for Easter and Passover are the same or similar. While the reason for celebration differs, the timing and some of the symbolisms share a curious resemblance.

The plot thickens when one recalls the Pagan holiday of Ostara, held at the spring equinox in celebration of the seasons changing from dark to light, from winter to spring. Ostara, or Eostre, is an Anglo-Saxon goddess representing the dawn, whose role is to watch over the fertility of the earth and the emergence of new life. Today’s word Easter derives from the old English word Eostre.

I find it all kind of fascinating. How religious holidays often overlap, interweave, intersect. Like a great big message from the universe to be good, to appreciate, to love, expressed in different ways within different cultures, but all with powerful interpretations. So that you can’t miss it; you’ve got to take note.

However you see it, however you experience this time of year, its roots are deeply spiritual the world over, and the symbolisms of lamb, chicks, bunnies, and baskets filled with sweets and colorful eggs all represent the promise of rebirth, renewal, liberation, resurrection, festivity.

However you celebrate, it’s a time worthy of honor and respect, reflection and gratitude. So feast well and be joyful. Happy Easter!

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March 30, 2013 In art, color, creativity, design, drawing, illustration By Patricia Saxton

The Easter Bonnet

In your easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it,
You’ll be the grandest lady in the easter parade.
I’ll be all in clover and when they look you over,
I’ll be the proudest fellow in the easter parade.
On the avenue, fifth avenue, the photographers will snap us,
And you’ll find that you’re in the rotogravure.
Oh, I could write a sonnet about your easter bonnet,
And of the girl I’m taking to the easter parade. 

~ Irving Berlin

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Easter seems to have come much too early this year. Whoever is in charge of the calendar must have gotten mixed up. Regardless, it is upon us; and it’s generally one of the brightest, loveliest, most cheerful holidays.

Depending on your religious association, it can also be one of the grandest. I remember one year being in Athens on Easter. There were fireworks and loud celebrations throughout the night. I had no idea! And there I’d mistakenly thought I’d get some sleep to recover from jet-lag. Apparently it’s their holiest, and most joyful celebration, a much bigger deal to the Greeks than Christmas.

My own Easter experience has been fairly mild. Happy, but certainly void of fireworks. And while not lost, bunnies and baskets and colored egg hunts seem to have masked the deeper meaning; Easter relegated to consumerism. parades and pretty pastel dresses. But at its core is “joy” ~ whether the welcoming of spring, honoring new life, or the ressurection of Jesus ~ the celebratory nature is one of hope and love and light, and all our modern material expressions are rooted in ancient history. Eggs and chicks for new life and rebirth, rabbits for fertility and abundance, and of course the less seen but still relevant Easter Bonnet.

Easter bonnets were worn long before we began celebrating Easter. The first bonnets were made by weaving a circular wreath of leaves and flowers in celebration of the coming of spring, the round shape symbolizing the cycle of the seasons, the sun’s path around the earth. While today’s Easter honors life and rebirth in more biblical terms, the symbolism remains jubilant, and the Easter bonnet is still typically round, still decorated with flowers and still a burst of pretty springtime color.

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Happy Easter to you all! Wishing you much love, light and peace ~ Patricia

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March 29, 2013 In art, inspiration By Patricia Saxton

How Do You Like Your Eggs?

I prefer mine over-easy, thank you, on top of a toasted, buttered english muffin. Maybe a side of pancakes or french toast. (Can we say carbohydrates?! Yea, that’s me. All that’s missing from this meal are the spuds.)

Of course if we’re not actually eating eggs, but decorating, well then, the possibilities open up nice and wide and carb-free.

We’ve had an easter-egg painting tradition in our home. There’s the standard (and not so standard) dying of real eggs ~ but our special fun was acrylic painting on egg shapes we’d cut out from some old cardboard. Punched a little hole in the top, tied with a thread. Then each year we grab a few fresh twigs from the yard, hang our artsy little eggs and we have our own homemade easter egg tree. Easy and sweet.

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But that’s just us. Creativity knows no bounds and there are many, many beautifully decorated eggs out there. So I thought I’d share a few, to inspire or just to admire these adorned symbolisms of new life. (known sources are linked by clicking on image)

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April 5, 2011 In books & stuff, children's books, words and language By Patricia Saxton

Easter Goodies

It’s almost time for fancy bonnets, colored-egg hunts and chocolate bunnies … which gave me an idea!

How about a literary treat for the young ones’ Easter Baskets? Yes! Fill it up with chocolates, and pink and yellow peeps, tie it with a bow ~ then add something that can be enjoyed long after the last bit of bunny has hopped away.

Naturally, I think the books and toy shown above would be excellent choices  :  ) (and you can find the links to buy them on my books page) ~ but there’s a whole world of great books out there for kids. I’m a huge (HUGE) advocate of children reading (actually, I’m big on everyone reading) … reading to them, reading with them, and when they’re able to read on their own, appreciating their joy at discovering new worlds through words and pictures.

So think about it. Slip a special book inside a child’s Easter basket this year. Really, chocolate AND books? It’s a win-win.

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