Easter Around the World (and down the street)

As we approach the Easter weekend, I thought I would share some of the Easter traditions from around the world.

Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Holy Thursday recalls the passion of Christ and many Christian churches celebrate the last supper.  Good Friday is the day that commemorates the crucifixion and the placement of Christ in the tomb. Sunday morning, the Resurrection! Christ is gone from the tomb.

In the United States, the Easter holiday has been effectively secularized, so that many American families participate only in the attendant revelry, central to which is decorating Easter eggs on Saturday evening and hunting for them Sunday morning, by which time they have been mysteriously hidden all over the house and garden. According to the children's stories, the eggs were hidden overnight and other treats delivered by the Easter Bunny in an Easter basket which children find waiting for them when they wake up. (The Easter Bunny's motives for doing this are seldom clarified.)

The weirdest Easter traditions from around the world stop in Finland, where children go begging in the streets, carrying broomsticks, bunches of willow twigs and coffee pots. In some parts of the country, people burn bonfires on Sunday, because it is believed that flames scare away witches who fly around on brooms during this weekend. Also, children dress up as witches and go from door to door in order to receive sweets. Although this Easter tradition might look like a genuine Halloween celebration, the two holidays are not related.

In Colombia, the dinner menu for this celebration consists of turtles, iguanas and big rodents. In Hungary, women get a water splash on Monday, but nowadays young men spray perfume or cologne and then ask for a kiss.

Locally -

Pondera Medical Center invites all those 10 & under to an Easter Egg Hunt on Thursday (that's today) at 3:45pm at the PMC Extended Care Facility in Conrad

Joplin will have their egg hunt on Friday morning at 10am at the Joplin Memorial Park for children up to sixth grade.

Chester on Friday - 1pm at the Chester City Park from 0 - 9 years old will hunt for the eggs.

1st Baptist Church will have their Easter Egg Hunt and block party in Shelby on Saturday, starting at 11am in Aronow Park.

The Bank of Glacier County in Cut Bank will have their annual egg hunt at the city park on main street and on the courthouse lawn Saturday morning at 10am (SHARP).  The Moose Lodge in Cut Bank will also have their egg hunt on Saturday at Noon.

The Choteau Chamber invites you to look for eggs at 1pm in the city park, but only if you're 10 and under.

Please let us know if you are having an Easter Egg hunt in your community this weekend.

So, Easter is a holiday that can be celebrated in many ways - we hope you enjoy yours!