“EASTER, PASSOVER, HOLI, NAVRUZ, ETC.: I ask for blessings for each of you!*”
Vol. 1, No. 43, April 17, 2011
TITLE: ” EASTER, PASSOVER, HOLI, NAVRUZ, ETC.: I ask for blessings for each of you!*”
INTRODUCTION
Spring is the time to escape winter and look forward to summertime. It also brings holy days: There are many all over the globe; four are predominant: the the celebration of the Christian Easter, the Jewish Passover, the Hindu Holis and the Persian festival of Navruz. Although specific customs and traditions may differ, adherants embrace the fundamental notion of good over evil. In addition, the love of life is common to all. This holy day is when people partake of special foods at a big family meal ; it is also a time for giving to loved ones. Furthermore, this is an opportunity for an individual renovation project of the person. My book of the week is “Holy Week: A Spiritual Guide from Palm Sunday to Easter” [Hardcover] by Emil Bock. Hence, today’s topic is Easter and more.
MY LIFE & TIMES*
Easter is a very religious holy day for my family. In springtime, the Catholic holy week, starts with Palm Sunday. I attend early in order to buy palms (“la palma”) and olive branches; and at the beginning of the mass, the priest blesses them. Following the tradition, I give these palms and branches to loved ones. (Usually on Palm Sunday, this is the day to forgive and forget – that’s another of the lessons to be learned.) The week continues through to Easter Friday and Eastern Sunday (the day of the rising). It is important for me to attend Sunday mass on Easter morning. In the past, I went either with my daughters or alone; but today my better-half goes with me. (He is not of the Catholic faith, but he accompanies me out of respect and I appreciate it. My partner celebrates Passover. I also accompany him on these high -holidays.) Easter Monday is the day after the fact.
It is a family Easter tradition that the family gets together for a big meal. The children are given Easter chocolates. Without fail, it was a pleasant afternoon. The atmosphere was always joyful. It also gave us a chance to see each other. When my grandparents were alive, my parents, my aunts, uncles, cousins and myself visited them in the afternoon. My grandmother had her usual baked goods, “La Colomba”‘ was one of them. My mother did it next and then it was turn. Now that my Mom is less mobile, I am aranging the feast that travels to her.
As well, I am now grappling with the joinder of Easter and Passover. Since it usually occur overlaps, it is difficult for me to give two holiday dinner parties one after another. I don’t always do it. However, it’s an aim and when I set my mind to do something, I do it! It’s not a turning away from our respective beliefs and customs, rather, it’s an enriching addition for both of us to share. Now that’s a good thought.
S & R* BONUS FACT * #1: Did you ever really look at the word, “holiday”?
Did you ever look at the word, “holiday”? In actuality, it derives from the phrase, “holy day”. This a good jarring thought to bring you back to the enjoyment of time-off in celebration of a day with religious meaning.
S & R* CHOICE ANECDOTAGE #1: George Clooney: Easter Bunny“Once, when [George Clooney] was thirteen, he was at home trying on an Easter Bunny costume for one of his dad’s shows. Suddenly, there was an awful rumbling – it was Augusta’s first earthquake in 150 years. Poor George; in his cute suit and huge fake feet, he had to leave the building and stand, humiliated, among the neighbours.”
(Source: www.anecdotage.com) –http://www.anecdotage.com/index.php?aid=18636
S & R* CHOICE ANECDOTAGE #2: Passover – Bob Hope & the Academy Awards
Though he hosted the Academy Awards a record 17 times, Bob Hope himself never won an Oscar. “Welcome to the Academy Awards,” he announced on one
occasion, “or, as they’re known at my house, Passover.”
(Source: www.anecdotage.com) – http://www.anecdotage.com/index.php?aid=17138
S & R* CHOICE ANECDOTAGE #3:Henry Ford & the Protocols of the Elders of Zion
According to Norman Cohn’s Warrant for Genocide (1966), The Protocols of the Elders of Zion were fabricated by hired anti-Jewish reactionaries in Parissome time between 1894 and 1899. Incredibly, in 1920 The Protocols – according to which no Passover meal is complete without the blood of a non-Jewish child to thicken the dough for the matzos – were endorsed by The Times of London, and distributed across the United States by Ford Motors founder Henry Ford
(Source: www.anecdotage.com) – http://www.anecdotage.com/index.php?aid=16230
S & R* QUOTE #1: Lent debt
“He who wants Lent to seem short should contract a debt to be repaid at Easter” – Italian Proverb quotes
(Source: Wisdom Quotes) – http://thinkexist.com/search/searchquotation.asp?search=easter&q=
S & R* QUOTE #2: Passover – unleavened bread (Now that’s biblical fast food!)
“And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) / And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.”
Bible quotes
(Source: Wisdom Quotes) – http://thinkexist.com/search/searchquotation.asp?search=easter&q=
S & R* QUOTE #3: Freedom and Passover
“Passover affirms the great truth that liberty is the inalienable right of every human being”
Morris Joseph quotes
(Source: Wisdom Quotes) – http://thinkexist.com/search/searchquotation.asp?search=passover
THE AUTHOR: Emil Bock
Emil Bock (1895-1959), anthroposophist and theologian, was learned and pious. Bock, born in Barmen, Germany, studied languages at the University of Bonn. Then in 1914, after enlisting as a volunteer in the First World War and sent to the front in Flanders, he was wounded. In 1916, he met the theologian Friedrich Rittelmeyer, and from 1918 he studied Protestant theology in Berlin, graduating in 1921. He was one of the founders of the Christian Community in Switzerland. He had leadership qualities. He led the seminar of the Christian Community. Bock was incarcerated by the Nazis in the concentration camp Welzheim, yet survived; on being released, he lived under surveillance for the rest of the war. After the war, Bock was instrumental in the rebuilding of the community. In 1838, after the death of Rittelmeyer, he became the head of the community. This was a remarkable man; I was pleased to have learned about him. He was a prolifc author. His book, “Holy Week: A Spiritual Guide from Palm Sunday to Easter” hits the spot this week.
(FactSource: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emil_Bock
SERIES/COLLECTION
Books
Some are:
- Zur religiösen Erneuerung (mit Friedrich Rittelmeyer), Sonderdruck (aus Die Drei, Jg. 1, Heft 9), 1922
- Die Kindheit Jesu. Zwei apokryphe Evangelien, Michael Verlag (Christus aller Erde 14/15), München 1924
- Das lichte Jahr. Vom Jahreslauf und den Festen (mit Rudolf Meyer), Verlag der Christengemeinschaft (Christus aller Erde 4), Stuttgart 1924
- Gegenwartsrätsel im Offenbarungslicht (mit Rudolf Frieling, Johannes Werner Klein, Eberhard Kurras und Rudolf Meyer), Verlag der Christengemeinschaft (Christus aller Erde 16), Stuttgart 1925
- Ein Spiel von Johannes dem Täufer. Gemeinde-Spiel zur Sommersonnenwende, Stuttgart 192
- Beiträge zur Übersetzung des Neuen Testaments, Typoskripte, Stuttgart 1930–33 (neu bearbeitet in zwei Bänden 1950)
- “Holy Week: A Spiritual Guide from Palm Sunday to Easter”
- The Three Years: The Life of Christ Between Baptism and Ascension (Paperback – Dec 2005)
- Genesis (Hardcover – Apr 1 1983)
- Moses: From the Mysteries of Egypt to the Judges of Israel by Emil Bock and M. St.Goar (Hardcover – Jun 26 1986)
- The Apocalypse of Saint John by Emil Bock and A. Heidenreich (Hardcover – Jul 1986)
THE BOOK: “Holy Week: A Spiritual Guide from Palm Sunday to Easter” [Hardcover] by Emil Bock
In biblical times, Easter was the worst of times that was yet, also so uplifting for the believers. Bock describes the weeklong Easter holy period from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. He recounts the important events. He takes us beyond. He reminds that it is a time for reflection and meditation. He inspires us. He guides us daily to the gospel, offering chances to pray. Pick it up and contemplate. It will do you good!
CONCLUSION
Throughout the world, the spring festival season, amongst others, comprises: the Christian Easter, the Hindu celebration of Holi, the Jewish observance of Passover and the Persian festival of Navruz.
Easter is the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. It is a time to repent, re-evaluate your life and do better. It is also a time to reconnect with family and friends with whom you’ve had a falling out. Jews observe Passover, which commemorates the Hebrews’ exodus from the Egypt of the Pharoahs and escape from servitude. Easter and Passover are somewhat interconnected. They both occur at approximately the same time. But there is more. Jesus was Jewish and a rabbi. It is controversial that the last supper could have been passover seder. While the meaning of Easter and that of Passover are different they speak to being thankful for the sacrifices paid in our behalf and doing better as people. The Hindus light bonfires in memory of the miraculous escape from the fires that young Prahlad, a staunch devotee of god Vishnu, escaped without any injuries due to his unshakable devotion. Navruz (Nowruz) marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the year in Iranian calendar.
The point
It is important to believe. Being a good person all year long is a purpose. Recognizing the power of love and goodness is good for the soul. Many people today neglect to do so. Easter like Passover, Holi and Navruz are not just another day. Make them special and they will help make you SPECIAL.
ANTOINETTE’S TIP SHEET*
Everyone should:
1. Believe;
2. Find your way to observe the holy days;
3. Connect with family and jouin with them in the celebration;
4. Take this to read religious texts or at least spritual material;
5. Be a good person; in this regard, strive to:
5.1 Be forgiving
Happy holy day ….I wish for you and your loved ones good health, long life, prosperity, much love and joy. “Buona Pasqua!*”
Take it out for a spin and tell me if you agree.
And that’s my thought of the week on books, what’s yours?*
ALP
“Books are life; and they make life better!*”
CREDITS
-Web Tech: richmediasound.com
The above is a new media production of Valente under its “United Author*” program.
*TM/© 2011 Practitioners’ Press Inc. – All Rights Reserved.
——————————————————
Schedule I
“IT WORDS FOR ME!*”
For today, my word/phrase(s) are: “Holiday”, “Easter”; “Passover”; “The Last Supper”; etc.
Holiday
A holiday is a day designated as having special significance for which individuals, a government, or a religious group have deemed that observation is warranted. It is generally an official (more common) or unofficial observance of religious, national, or cultural significance, often accompanied by celebrations or festivities.
(Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_day
Easter
Easter (Old English: Ēostre; Greek: Πάσχα, Paskha; Aramaic and Hebrew: פֶּסחא‎
Pasḥa,) is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year.[1]
According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. Some[who?] Christians celebrate this resurrection on Easter Day or Easter Sunday[2] (also Resurrection Day or Resurrection Sunday), two days after Good Friday and three days after Maundy Thursday. The chronology of his death and resurrection is variously interpreted to be between AD 26 and 36, traditionally 33.
Easter also refers to the season of the church year called Eastertide or the Easter Season. Traditionally the Easter Season lasted for the forty days from Easter Day until Ascension Day. The first week of the Easter Season is known as Easter Week or the Octave of Easter. The week from Palm Sunday to Easter is known as Holy Week. Easter also marks the end of Lent, a season of fasting, prayer, and penance.
Easter is a moveable feast, meaning it is not fixed in relation to the civil calendar. It occurs during the spring, in and around the month of April. Easter is linked to the Jewish Passover by much of its symbolism, as well as by its position in the calendar. In most European languages the feast called Easter in English is termed by the words for passover in those languages and in the older English versions of the Bible the term Easter was the term used to translate passover.[3][4]
(Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter
The Last Supper
According to Christian belief, The Last Supper is the final meal that Jesus Christ shared with his Twelve Apostles in Jerusalem before his crucifixion.[1] The Last Supper provides the scriptural basis for the ceremony known as “the Eucharist”, “communion” or “the Lord’s Supper.”
(Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Supper
Passover
Passover (Hebrew, Yiddish: פֶּסַח Pesach, Tiberian: [pesaħ] ( listen), Modern
Hebrew: Pesah, Pesakh, Yiddish: Peysekh, Paysakh, Paysokh) is a Jewish holy day and festival. It commemorates the story of the Exodus, in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt. Passover begins on the 15th day of the month of Nisan, which is spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and is celebrated for seven or eight days. It is one of the most widely observed Jewish holidays.In the narrative of the Exodus, the Bible tells that God helped the Children of Israel escape slavery in Egypt by inflicting ten plagues upon the Egyptians before Pharaoh would release his Israelite slaves; the tenth and worst of the plagues was the slaughter of the first-born. The Israelites were instructed to mark the doorposts of their homes with the blood of a spring lamb and, upon seeing this, the spirit of the Lord passed over these homes, hence the term “passover”.[1] When Pharaoh freed the Israelites, it is said that they left in such a hurry that they could not wait for bread to rise. In commemoration, for the duration of Passover no leavened bread is eaten, for which reason it is called “The Festival of the Unleavened Bread”.[2] Matzo (flat unleavened bread) is the primary symbol of the holiday.
(Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passover
Passover Seder
The Passover Seder (Hebrew: סֵדֶר‎ [ˈsedeʁ], “order, arrangement”; Yiddish: Sayder) is a Jewish ritual feast that marks the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Passover. It is conducted on the evenings of the 14th day of Nisan in the Hebrew calendar, and on the 15th by traditionally observant Jews living outside Israel. This corresponds to late March or April in the Gregorian calendar. The Seder is a ritual performed by a community or by multiple generations of a family, involving a retelling of the story of the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. This story is in the Book of Exodus (Shemot) in the Hebrew Bible. The Seder itself is based
on the Biblical verse commanding Jews to retell the story of the Exodus from Egypt: “You shall tell your son on that day, saying, ‘It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.'” (Exodus 13:8) Traditionally, families and friends gather in the evening to read the text of the Haggadah, an ancient work derived from the Mishnah (Pesahim 10).[1][2] The Haggadah contains the narrative of the Israelite exodus from Egypt, special blessings and rituals, commentaries from the Talmud, and special Passover songs. Seder customs include drinking four cups of wine, eating matza, partaking of symbolic foods placed on the Passover Seder Plate, and reclining in celebration of freedom.[3] The Seder is performed in much the same way by Jews all over the world.
(Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passover_Seder
Holi
Holi (होली), is a spring religious festival celebrated by Hindus. It is primarily observed in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka,[1] and countries with large Indic diaspora populations, such as Suriname, Malaysia, Guyana, South Africa, Trinidad, United Kingdom, United States, Mauritius, and Fiji. In West Bengal and Orissa of India it is known as Dolyatra (Doul Jatra) (Bengali: দোলযাত্রা), or Basanta-Utsav (“spring festival”)(Bengali: বসন্তোৎসব), . The most celebrated Holi is that of the Braj region, in locations connected to the Lord Krishna: Mathura, Vrindavan, Nandagaon, and Barsana. These places have become tourist destinations during the festive season of Holi, which lasts here up to sixteen days.[2]
The main day, Holi, also known as Dhuli Vandana in Sanskrit, also Dhulheti, Dhulandi or Dhulendi, is celebrated by people throwing coloured powder and coloured water at each other. Bonfires are lit on the eve of the festival, also known as Holika Dahan (burning of Holika) or Chhoti Holi (little Holi). The bonfires are lit in memory of the miraculous escape that young Prahlad accomplished when Demoness Holika, sister of Hiranyakashipu, carried him into the fire. Holika was burnt but Prahlad, a staunch devotee of god Vishnu, escaped without any injuries due to his unshakable devotion. Holika Dahan is referred to as Kama Dahanam in South India.
(Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holi
Nowruz is celebrated and observed by Iranic peoples and the related cultural continent and has spread in many other parts of the world, including parts of Central Asia, Caucasus, South Asia, Northwestern China, the Crimea and some groups in the Balkans.
Nowruz marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the year in Iranian calendar. It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox, which usually occurs on March 21 or the previous/following day depending on where it is observed. As well as being a Zoroastrian holiday and having significance amongst the Zoroastrian ancestors of modern Iranians, the same time is celebrated in parts of the South Asian sub-continent as the new year. The moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator and equalizes night and day is calculated exactly every year and Iranian families gather together to observe the rituals.
Originally being a Zoroastrian festival, and the holiest of them all, Nowruz is believed to have been invented by Zoroaster himself, although there is no clear date of origin.[10] Since the Achaemenid era the official year has begun with the New Day when the Sun leaves the zodiac of Pisces and enters the zodiacal sign of Aries, signifying the Spring Equinox.
(Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navruz
STUDY/STATISTICS
The Jewish liturgical year is not simply the basis for Jewish holidays, but for the Christian movable feasts as well—those annual holidays that do not fall on a fixed date but vary according to astronomical occurrences.The celebration of Passover took place just before the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ, and the two holidays have been entwined from the beginning—the word Pasch, originally meaning Passover, came to mean Easter as well.
U.S. Census – stats – http://www.infoplease.com/spot/movablefeasts1.html
Passover
Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, the holiday commemorating the Hebrews’ exodus from slavery in Egypt, lasts seven days in Israel and among Reform Jews, and eight days elsewhere around the world. It begins on the 15th day of Nisan, which is the seventh month in the Jewish calendar. It ends on the 21st of Nisan in Israel (and for Reform Jews) and on the 22nd of Nisan elsewhere. Since Hebrew days begin and end at sundown, Passover begins at sundown on the preceding day.
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/movablefeasts1.html
Easter
(Western Churches)
Easter is calculated as the first Sunday after the paschal full moon that occurs on or after the vernal equinox. If the full moon falls on a Sunday, then Easter is the following Sunday. The holiday can occur anywhere between March 22 and April 25. The Western church does not use the actual, or astronomically correct date for the vernal equinox, but a fixed date (March 21). And by full moon it does not mean the astronomical full moon but the “ecclesiastical moon,” which is based on tables created by the church. These constructs allow the date of Easter to be calculated in advance rather than determined by actual astronomical observances, which are naturally less predictable. See also A Tale of Two Easters. The Council of Nicaea in 325 established that Easter would be celebrated on Sundays; before that Easter was celebrated on different days in different places in the same year. http://www.infoplease.com/spot/movablefeasts1.html
Easter (Orthodox Church)
The Orthodox church uses the same formula to calculate Easter, but bases the date on a slightly different calendar—the Julian calendar instead of the more contemporary Gregorian one, the calendar that is most widely used today. Consequently, both churches only occasionally celebrate Easter on the same day. Unlike the Western Church, the Eastern Church sets the date of Easter according to the actual, astronomical full moon and the actual equinox as observed along the meridian of Jerusalem, site of the Crucifixion and Resurrection. See also A Tale of Two Easters and dates of other Orthodox movable feasts.
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/movablefeasts1.html
S & R* BONUS FACT #2: Jewish liturgical year
The Jewish liturgical year is not simply the basis for Jewish holidays, but for the Christian movable feasts as well—those annual holidays that do not fall on a fixed date but vary according to astronomical occurrences.The celebration of Passover took place just before the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ, and the two holidays have been entwined from the beginning—the word Pasch, originally meaning Passover, came to mean Easter as well.
U.S. Census – stats – http://www.infoplease.com/spot/movablefeasts1.html
Schedule II
STUDY/STATISTICS
Schedule III
S & R* NEWS ALERT* #2:
”If you are waiting until spring to get active, you are wasting the winter. Physical activity is a great way to break out of the winter blahs, and help
melt away some winter weight. Molson Canadian 67 offers these tips to help runners cross the finish line, stay motivated and have fun.
1. Join a running group to help keep you motivated and increase your social network.
2. Keep warm. Thermal base layers including gloves and a toque that will keep moisture away from your body will keep you comfortable.
3. Get a grip. Running spikes that fit over your shoes will help keep you from sliding on ice.
4. Eat a “balanced diet. Carbohydrates are the primary fuel source for aerobic activity. Vegetables, cereal, pasta and bread are a great energy source before a run.
5. Everything in moderation. Running is a great activity to increase your fitness you don’t have to give up the things you love to run.
6. Reward yourself after pounding the pavement. Hit the pub with friends post run. If you have weight loss goals keep the menu and bar options lean with low calorie choices like Molson Canadian 67.
7. A light beer the night before a race is fine, but limit it to one. Beer is a diuretic and, if overdone, can dehydrate you. More information on Molson Canadian 67 is available online at
www.molsoncoorscanada.com.
www.newscanada.com
S & R* NEWS ALERT* #2:Flavours of Easter can follow tradition, or be served with a modern twist.
News Canada ”For many, the thought of colourful hard“ boiled eggs and chocolate bunnies come to mind when you first mention Easter. But Easter food traditions vary
around the world with different cultures enjoying their own favourite dish. Some of the most popular foods served during this time of year might even
come as a surprise.
Did you know…
Hot Cross Buns and Simnel Cake are both popular Easter treats in the U.K. Traditionally, Hot Cross Buns are eaten on Good Friday and Simnel Cake, a
light fruit cake covered in marzipan, then toasted, on Easter Sunday.In Italy, no Easter table is complete without eggs, bread and La Colomba “ a
traditional Italian Easter sponge cake sprinkled with almonds and sugar crystals on top in the shape of a dove, the symbol of peace. But, the
traditions vary from region to region “ Neapolitans love Pastiera, a pie filled with ricotta and candied fruit.
Eggs are the most recognizable symbol of Easter, and chocolate eggs are especially popular throughout the world. Germany and France were the first
countries to introduce a solid chocolate egg at Easter. In North America, it’s all about the ham. Whether it’s smoked, glazed ham or
honey ham “ there are plenty of ways to showcase the meal’s centerpiece. And, while Canadians are debating which preparation methods to use, they are
also among those leading the way to pure and healthy alternatives to a traditionally savoury meal.
According to the Institute of Food Technologists, the move to real foods is increasing significantly as consumers are looking for ingredients that offer
tasty, better for you alternatives to their food, without artificial flavours and additives. New Schneiders Country Naturals smoked uncured ham
is crafted with only authentic, wholesome, natural ingredients, helping Canadians experience Easter the way it is supposed to taste. Need help
finding the perfect recipe for your Easter meal? Check out www.schneiders.ca for recipe ideas.
Regardless of where you live, it’s the traditions and flavours of the Easter holiday season that bring families and friends together to celebrate.
www.newscanada.com
“News Canada” <article@newscanada.com>
From: “News Canada” <article@newscanada.com>
CREDITS
-Web Tech: richmediasound.com
The above is a new media production of Valente under its “United Author*” program.
*TM/© 2011 Practitioners’ Press Inc. – All Rights Reserved.