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Holiday Traditions
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Learn about the special days and holidays celebrated in the United States and Canada:
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Easter
 When the second-century Christian missionaries encountered the tribes of the north with their pagan celebrations, they attempted to convert them to Christianity but they did so in a clandestine manner. The missionaries cleverly decided to spread their religious message slowly throughout the populations by allowing them to continue to celebrate pagan feasts, but to do so in a Christian manner.
The ancient Saxons celebrated the return of spring with an uproarious festival commemorating their goddess of offspring and of springtime, Easter which occurred at the same time as the Christian observance of the Resurrection of Christ. The festival was altered by the missionaries and made a Christian celebration as converts were slowly won over and the name, Easter, was eventually changed to Easter.
In 325 A.D., at the Council of Nicaea convened by emperor Constantine the Easter Rule was isued which states that Easter shall be celebrated on the first Sunday that occurs after the first full moon on or after the vernal equinox, or first day of spring. Therefore, Easter must be celebrated on a Sunday between the dates of March 22 and April 25 and its date is tied to the lunar cycle.
Lent is the forty-six day period prior to Easter Sunday and begins on Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras (French for "Fat Tuesday") is a celebration, sometimes called "Carnival," practiced around the world, on the Tuesday prior to Ash Wednesday. It was designed as a way to "get it all out" before the sacrifices of Lent began. New Orleans is the focal point of Mardi Gras celebrations in the U.S.
The Easter Bunny symbol originated with the pagan festival of Easter. The goddess, Easter, was worshipped by the Anglo-Saxons through her earthly symbol, the rabbit. The Germans brought the symbol of the Easter rabbit to America. It was widely ignored by other Christians until after the Civil War, when Easter became widely celebrated in America.
The Easter Egg predates the Christian holiday of Easter and the exchange of eggs in the springtime is a custom that was centuries old when Easter was first celebrated by Christians. Eggs were often wrapped in gold leaf, or colored by boiling them with the leaves or petals of certain flowers.Children today hunt colored eggs and place them in Easter baskets along with the modern version of real Easter eggs -- those made of plastic or chocolate candy.
Spring Holiday Floral Decorating
Ideas
Decorate your brunch table with votive candles interspersed
among several vases of spring blooms. Guests can each take
home a small vase as a party favor.
Surprise your guests with corsages and boutonnieres to
wear to religious services.
Line your entryway with beautiful blooming spring plants.
A wreath of spring flowers on your front door is a fabulous
finishing touch.
Decorate each place setting at your table with a different
flower variety. Include each variety in a vase for your
table centerpiece.
Garnish hors d'oeuvre trays with spring flowers.
Ask your florist to make a design in a teapot or a cluster
of teacups. Or place a small bloom on each saucer when serving
tea.
Fill a traditional wicker basket with mixed spring flowers
to use as a centerpiece. Or place blooms among the eggs
in your Easter basket. For a charming effect place smaller
baskets and candles next to the flowers. This can also be
done with clay pots.
Flower Suggestions
Spring flowers include: tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, iris,
daisies, lily of the valley, violets, pansies, lilies, mini
carnations, gerbera daisies, pussywillow, and flowering branches
such as forsythia and cherry blossoms.
Potted plants in season include: tulips, hyacinths, daffodils,
azaleas, Easter lilies, daisies, violets, and kalanchoe.
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