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Tuesday, June 30, 2009 12:28:28 PM
It commemorates when Christ was resurrected from the
cross on Calvary. Eostre is the Anglos Saxon God of Spring. The Council of Nicaea
in AD325 called that Easter would be observed on the Sunday following the full
moon after the vernal Equinox, which can be held from 21 March and 25 April.
A once in a lifetime experience!
Easter is always the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon after the Spring
Equinox (which is March 20). This dating of Easter is based on the lunar
calendar that Hebrew people used to identify Passover, which is why
it moves around on our Roman calendar.
Here's the interesting info. Last year was the earliest Easter any of us
will ever see the rest of our lives! And only the most elderly of
our population have ever seen it this early (95 years old or above!).
And none of us have ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier! Here's the
facts:
1) The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year
2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so
if you're 95 or older, you are the only ones that were around for
that!).
2) The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year
2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818
So, no one alive today has or will ever see it any
earlier Easter than 2008 last year!
Lent
- Lent is the period of time forty days before Easter is is determined by
the first full moon after the vernal equinox. This changes from year to
year, so the dates vary accordingly from February to March. The word
Lent is derived by the mere fact that in the Northern hemisphere these
days during this period are lengthening. (Lentene) is from the old English
Language.
- These forty day represent when Jesus fasted in the wilderness before he
went forth to proclaim God's ministry. This brings a sombre tone to this
period. In very early times that people fasted eating no fat, butter eggs,
milk and meat. Sex was not allowed during this solemn period and
also they were expected eliminate any foods that they loved as a mark of
respect and penance. I guess this where the superstition arrived
"that it was considered bad luck to be married during Lent).
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Shove Tuesday
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- Shove Tuesday is held on the last day before the season of Lent
commences. It connects to 'Confession and Absolution' from and archaic
English word' being driven... Shrove.. the faithful always confessed to
any sins and then doing penance because of their wrong doings. Being
sorrowful for wrong doings is only one part of this day. It had its happy
side too, thus Pancake Tuesday.
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 Pancake Tuesday.
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- When the people realised that this period of denial was
approaching they undertook to really let their hair day and enjoy
themselves. Games was very extremely popular and Pancake races were
played. As eggs were removed from their diet they used this day to use the
eggs in the pancakes and the races were part of the days fun. This was
said to have been the legend that a house wife as cooking pancakes and was late for
church and she ran out of the home with the frying pan in her hand and raced
on to church tossing the pancakes and she ran.
- The first of these races was to have be raced in Buckinghamshire in
around 1450, over 440 yards. Women 18 years and over were able to
participate in the race and generally were housewives. They were scarves
to adorn their hair and of course and apron to paint the picture and they
must have lived in the area for at the very least 6 months. They were
required to toss the pancakes three times whilst running with the
hot sizzling fry pan. Her prize and reward was to receive all the pancakes
cooked by all contestants, a bible given by the vicar and big kiss from
the local bellringer.
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