[sw-l] Springtime around the world...

[Valerie Sutton]

SignWriting List
March 25, 2005

Hello Everyone!
Thank you Trevor, for this remarkable history of Christian ceremonies
in England! Quite an elaborate history...smile...and then or course,
there is Passover, which, I believe, is the Jewish tradition at this
time of year? And what about other religions? I am sure they also have
their Spring religious ceremonies...So we live in a remarkable
world....rich with many heritages. It is nice to have such an
international SignWriting List. We have List members from 30 countries,
I believe...So we are learning about each other....smile....and I am so
happy you are here sharing with me too!  Val ;-)

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On Mar 25, 2005, at 3:31 AM, Trevor Jenkins wrote:
> Depends whether one sees Easter as holidays or holy-days. Also depends
> how
> "high" one is that is whether one is High Church with preparations for
> this year's Easter begun back on 9th Feb (Ash Wednesday) and the start
> of
> the Lenten Fast. Having had pancakes on Shrove Tuesday to use up all
> the eggs in the house; not to eat eggs again until 40 days later ---
> okay
> so that doesn't happen very much the Fast is usually taken to mean
> giving
> up some favourite food for example, chocolate, or TV or cigarettes :-)
> This is one reason for the Easter Egg symbolism on Easter Sunday.
>
> Possible to be very busy this week. Last Sunday (Pam Sunday) would have
> seen you parading around your parish with palm fronds as an act of
> commemoration for Jesus' entry in Jerusalem. Various church services on
> following days too. Maunday Thursday will see the monarch distributing
> "Maunday Money" to a group of elderly people in one of the Anglican
> Cathedrals. In the evening quite common for there to be all night
> prayer
> vigil to commerate the events in the Garden of Gethsemane. Today many
> parishes will organise a walk of witness as commemoration of the walk
> along the Via Dolorosa to Golgotha.
>
> Then Easter Sunday itself may start with an outdoor sunrise service to
> commemorate Mary Magdalene meeting the Risen Christ in the Garden and
> mistaking him for the gardener. ;-) Then during the day celebration
> services. In past times people would turn out in the finest clothes.
> Eggs
> (chocolate and real) are exchanged as a symbol of new life and sign
> that
> the Lenten Fast is completed.
>
> I'm now a Low Anglican so about the only parts of all that I am
> involved
> in is eating the pancakes, participating in the prayer vigil,
> celebrating
> on Easter Day and eating the chocolate eggs. Still a busy time because
> this Easter Sunday happens to co-incide with our regular signed
> service so
> I'm probably signing in church.
>
> So lots of the activities that you describe are rooted in Christian
> observance though not many people know it. According to a survey
> published
> this week less than half the British population know what Easter is
> about;
> personally I'm surprised it is that high.
>
> Regards, Trevor
>
> <>< Re: deemed!
>