EASTER TIDBITS

THE WORD "EASTER"

The celebration of Easter is an international event, it also has different names in non-English languages. Early Christians called Christ's resurrection "Pesach," the Hebrew word for Passover. Today, the holiday is called "Pesach" in French, "Pascua" in Spanish, "Pasqua" in Italian, "Pashkë" in Albanian and "Pask" in Swedish. Our English word comes from a stranger source: an Anglo-Saxon goddess named Eostre (also known as Astarte or Oster). The festival of Eostre always took place around the spring equinox, so early Christian missionaries in Europe gradually melded the festival's name, timing and some of its symbols into the Christian celebration.

THE EASTER BUNNY

Like many traditions, the Easter Bunny evolved out of ancient fertility and spring celebrations. Rabbits give birth in the spring so, when the fields became overrun with baby bunnies, it seemed natural to incorporate the rabbit as a symbol for spring and, eventually, Easter. According to an old German story retold by Pamela Kennedy in her book, An Easter Celebration: Traditions and Customs from Around the World, a poor woman who loved children would hide brightly colored eggs in her garden as Easter treats. One year, while the children searched for them, they noticed a hare hopping past and believed that the animal had left the eggs. A new tradition was born!

THE WHITE HOUSE EASTER EGG ROLL

The annual White House Easter Egg roll dates back to 1878, when President Rutherford B. Hayesopened the White House lawn after being approached by children on one of his daily walks. Previously, children had celebrated Easter by playing games on Capitol Hill, but Ulysses S. Grant signed a bill banning the practice. It's still a tradition today. Besides the egg roll, the event also features stations where children and their families can decorate cookies, dye eggs and participate in an Easter Egg hunt.

EASTER BASKETS

Like the Easter bunny, filling and exchanging Easter baskets likely originated in Germany. Once children began to think the "Easter Hare" left their goodies, they started creating small nests of leaves and branches in their gardens where the bunny could place them. Another interpretation maintains that the Easter basket tradition began much earlier with farmers in Middle Eastern cultures. They reportedly brought seedlings in a basket to be blessed, in hopes of having a bountiful harvest.

EASTER SUNDAY SUNRISE SERVICE

There's a reason why Easter Sunday is often celebrated with church service at the crack of dawn. As the story goes, Mary opened Jesus's tomb early in the morning to find it empty — which is why so many churches now hold services at an early hour to honor the momentous occasion.In fact, the tradition of sunrise Easter service dates back to 1732, when the first service was held in Germany by the Moravian Church. A group of young men gathered at the first light of dawn at the town's graveyard to sing hymns — and the next year, the entire congregation joined in. By 1773, the first sunrise service for Easter was held in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

EASTER EGG HUNTS

The first egg hunt can be traced back to Martin Luther, a central figure during the Protestant Reformation. Men hid the eggs for women and children to find. Finding an Easter egg during the hunt is supposed to remind us of the discovery Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James and Salome made when they came to Jesus's cave and found it empty.

LENT

We can thank Lent for our celebratory Easter feasts. Originally, Lent required people to fast for 40 days (excluding Sundays). These days, most observers abstain from meat that isn't fish on Fridays only, as well as give up an indulgence, like caffeine, chocolate, television or social media. The exact end date for Lent can vary slightly depending on whether the church is following Western or Eastern practices, but it tends to end either at the beginning of Holy Week or on Easter itself. Either way, people are definitely ready to dig into some of the sweet and savory dishes they've been missing by the time the ham comes out of the oven.

EASTER BONNETS

Purchasing a new holiday outfit may seem like a 20th century commercial invention, but even early Christians followed the practice of wearing new clothes for Easter. In America, stores quickly caught on to the idea that putting out Easter outfits and sales during the season would help them sell fancy bonnets or suits. City-goers often promenaded New York's Fifth Avenue to show off their new attire after church, eventually leading to the creation of the famous Easter Parade. The song Easter Parade, written by Irving Berlin in 1933 and popularized by Bing Crosby in Holiday Inn, captured the fanciful mood of this new tradition.

EASTER CANDY

No Easter is complete without candy. Exchanging chocolates and other sweets during the holiday gained popularity in Europe during the mid-19th century, as companies developed methods for mass producing sweets and unveiled confections in fancy holiday shapes and packages, like Cadbury eggs. Jelly beans likely evolved from early fruit jellies such as Turkish Delight, a Middle Eastern delicacy. They entered the U.S. market sometime in the late-19th century, but didn't gain their Easter association until the 1930s, according to the Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America.

CHOCOLATE BUNNIES

It's hard to know exactly who created the first chocolate bunny, but it was probably someone either from Germany or a German immigrant in America. By 19th century Germany, pastry and sugar bunnies (some with hard-boiled eggs inside of them!) were in production and bunnyshaped chocolate molds have been traced back to Munich in the 1850s. Around the same time, Robert L. Strohecker, a business man in Pennsylvania, placed a 5-foottall chocolate rabbit in his drugstore's window. By 1925, people in the U.S. could order chocolate bunnies, a special Easter treat, from a catalog. The rest is delicious history. 

Just a friendly reminder!

IT IS RATTLESNAKE SEASON

Here in Southern Arizona we know all too well what comes with warm weather… SNAKES!!

Rattlesnakes are most active during the months of April through October. Sometimes in Arizona the temperature may be perfect for these reptiles to wake up as early as March. Currently, they are most active during the day, and are less active at night due to the cooler evening weather. However, as the days get warmer, the nights will as well.

LET'S GET TO KNOW THIS CREATURE, AND HOW WE CAN STAY SAFE IF WE ENCOUNTER THEM.

Rattle snakes do not hatch from an egg, they are born alive! From birth they are fully ready to live on their own, with fangs and venom. As a baby rattlesnake, the most important thing for them is to find food and shelter as soon as possible. They are small they have the potential to become food for much bigger predators. Because they are tiny little things, they may end up in places such as swimming pools, planters or in homes. There are many holes around that belong to squirrels and prairie dogs. Don't assume these homes belong to just those cute furry creatures. Snakes do not dig holes to live in, they TAKE holes to live in. It has been said that a rattlesnake will always rattle, but that is not always true. If a rattlesnake is sleeping and does not smell you or feel your vibrations you may startle it and it will strike to protect itself. It is important to always be aware of your surroundings. Rattlesnakes blend in pretty well with our Arizona rock and dirt. Note, that although relaxing and enjoyable sitting outside to watch beautiful birds eat out of the bird feeder you have, will attract snakes of all kinds.

If you encounter a rattlesnake, don't get too nervous. Like the saying goes, "it is more afraid of you than you are of it". If you see a rattlesnake, stop where you are and move slowly away from the snake. The rattlesnake will not chase you, but keep a safe distance. Be sure to keep children and pets away if a rattlesnake is located near you. If the rattlesnake is in an area that is not threatening, just leave it alone, as it is probably passing through looking for food. If the rattlesnake is in an area that is threatening to yourself, and child or a pet call your local fire department, or a private pet removal company to come remove it. If however you take matters into your own hands and kill the snake, know that a rattlesnake can have a reflex bite. Reflex bites with venom can occur for several hours after the death of the snake.

WHAT TO DO IF BITTEN BY A RATTLESNAKE:

• Remain calm • Remove jewelry and watches from affected area • Keep limb at level below the heart • Decrease activity • Get to medical facility ASAP

WHAT NOT TO DO IF BITTEN BY A RATTLESNAKE:

• Do not apply ice • Do not use incisions • Do not use a tourniquet or constriction band • Do not administer alcohol or drugs

Make sure you and your family are aware of your surroundings, and know what to do if you encounter this creature we share our desert with.

Health & Beauty

DIY SPRING FLORAL FACIAL

I know our winters aren’t “harsh”, but our skin still takes on the side effects from cold weather. This facial will leave your skin looking glowy and feeling rejuvenated.

INGREDIENTS

1 teaspoon dried lavender, 1 teaspoon chamomile, 1 teaspoon rose petals, ½ tablespoon ground nutmeg, 1 tablespoon milk, 2-3 tablespoons honey, large bowel, towel, washcloth.

DIRECTIONS

Step 1 Flower Steam. Channel the gorgeous blooms outside with this luxurious steam, which will open up your pores, give you a healthy glow, and relax you with calming floral scents. Boil 4 cups of water and pour into a large bowl. Add 1 tsp each of dried lavender and chamomile to the water, then lean your face over the bowl (keeping your face at least six inches from the surface of the water) and place a towel over your head. Breathe deeply, feel your pores open up, and relax.

Step 2 Milk and Nutmeg Exfoliant. No need to buy harsh exfoliants or microbead cleansers to get great exfoliation and slough off all that dull winter skin — you probably have the two ingredients you need right in your kitchen. Just mix 1/2 tablespoon ground nutmeg with 1 tablespoon milk (whole milk is best, but any kind will work) and gently massage it over your face in a circular motion, then rinse off with warm water.

Step 3 Warm Rose and Honey Moisturizing Mask. Finish off your facial with a moisturizing honey mask infused with rose petals. The honey/rose scent combination alone is divine, but when you see your skin after? You’ll want to add this magical potion to your regular beauty ritual rotation. Mix 1 teaspoon of dried rose petals with 2-3 tablespoons of honey and microwave for 5-10 seconds, until warm but not hot. Spread a thin layer over the entire face and neck and leave on for as long as you like. Wipe off with a warm, damp washcloth, and then splash face with warm water.

COOLTHINGS

Do you like browsing the web to find cool gadgets and things that you can use in your home? If so, then Cool Things is a website you should definitely bookmark. It hosts collections of articles and information about cool things. This includes gadgets, entertainment, toys, and even inventions. Plus, it’s a great place to get inspiration for gifts as well, whether you’re looking for gifts for men or women.

https://www. coolthings.com