Monday, April 5, 2010
Katy Billups couldn’t go home to celebrate Easter Sunday with her family. But she didn’t let that stop her from having a day filled with Easter baskets, church, brunch and celebrations with her friends right here in Lawrence.
History of Easter Traditions
Todd Dorsey, a junior from Overland Park, said he grew up hunting for candy-filled eggs on Easter. He was used to the commercialized jelly beans, plastic baskets and chocolate bunnies. But, until he looked into it, never really knew why it was a part of easter
“Originally the egg was a symbol of the rebirth of the earth in celebrations of spring and was adopted by early Christians as a symbol of the resurrection of Jesus,” Dorsey said.
According to History.com the use of Easter eggs is traced back to pagan traditions. The word Easter originates from Eostre, believed to be the goddess of spring and fertility. For some Christians, the egg, an age-old icon for new life, represents Jesus’ resurrection.
The origin of the Easter bunny delivering baskets to children is uncertain. The rabbit represents fertility and new life and is said to have been introduced in America in the 1700s by German immigrants.
The Germans had a tradition with an egg-laying hare called “Osterhase” or “Oschter Haws” where children would assemble nests where the animal could lay its eggs. That ritual dispersed and, as the years went on, was transformed into what it is today; decorated baskets, replacing the nest, filled with colored eggs, candy and gifts.
Billups, a senior from Dallas, didn’t make the trip home because of the distance and brevity of the holiday weekend. While some schools cancel classes on Good Friday or the Monday after Easter, the University doesn’t, which makes traveling home difficult for some. Billups said she doesn’t mind not going home for Easter but she does miss some of her family’s traditions.
“I miss waking up and getting Easter baskets, having a good breakfast and Easter dinner,” Billups said.
Although she wasn’t with her family, her parents did send her their traditional Easter basket filled with candy and goodies as well as some “bunny money” that she receives each year to spend on her own Easter brunch and dinner merriments.
But some students like Todd Dorsey, a junior from Overland Park, are able to drive home and celebrate with family. “Growing up, my two brothers and I greatly anticipated a full basket of delicious candy and the Easter egg hunt every Easter,” Dorsey said.
But the holiday isn’t just about easter eggs and family tradition.
Easter Sunday, one of Christianity’s most important holidays, celebrates Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the cross and marks the end of Lent, the 40-day period of fasting and prayer leading up to Easter. Lent, a long-standing christian tradition, is a time of reflection, self-deprivation, and penance that symbolizes the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert, as depicted in the New Testament. During Lent it is traditional to give up something that people may do often and find pleasure in.
Billups knew right away what she had to give up for Lent. Her guilty pleasure: the veggie sandwich and barbecue chips at Jimmy Johns.
“I would go to Jimmy John’s late at night way too much,” Billups said. “It was bad,” Billups said.
After going 40 days without a submarine, she planned to indulge after going out Saturday evening. After all, Lent officially ended at midnight Saturday.
Instead of giving up a thing, Dorsey gave up time. He chose to use his free time, or the time he spent doing things he enjoys, to help others by serving meals at Jubilee Café, a restaurant-style meal service for the needy or homeless.
Dorsey said it was difficult to stick with because the meal service at Jubilee Café begins at 5:30 a.m. and lasts for about three hours.
“With school, work and life it makes it tough to get up that early consistently,” Dorsey said.
— Edited by Ashley Montgomery
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Comments
Students celebrate Easter with family and tradition
Easter Sunday does not mark the end of lent. Lent officially ends on the evening of Holy Thursday--several days earlier. Does anyone check facts at the Kansan?
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