The birth and rebirth of all nature, The passing of winter and spring, We share with the life universal, Rejoice in the magical ring."
Dear Aspen Chapel Families,
When I reflect on my own childhood and remember Easter and the days leading up to Easter, I can recall certain images and activities, but I don't remember learning the purpose behind what we did as a family. I remember hoping that the dissolved Paas tablets would make a vibrant color on the eggs, and being disappointed when they came out pale and splotchy. I remember decorating our Easter tree with adorable wooden rabbits and ornate wooden eggs, and finding new ones hanging from my basket each year. My fondest memory is finding Cadbury eggs and little presents in my basket...it was like a smaller version of Christmas, but more pastel. I'd usually have to wear some starchy dress that my mom made and then cringe from embarrassment as my mom belted out Hallelujah with her Easter hat at some church with my grandparents. The only thing that got me through it was stifling laughter with my brother in the pews and knowing we'd be able to eat deviled eggs and more chocolate soon.
It wasn't until I was in the throes of motherhood that Easter meant something more than arranging a "perfect" basket for my children with natural jellybeans and Jan Brett Easter books. Like with a lot of people, the struggles in our life as parents opened us to the spiritual lessons offered in the holidays we celebrate, behind the ritual and traditions and outfits and meals. And maybe by slowing down and helping our children understand the origins and meanings behind what we do for these holidays, they'll see beyond the "getting" and "consuming", and will see them as an opportunity to evolve as human beings with the cycles of birth, death, and rebirth that our planet experiences.
So back to Paas tablets...why do so many of us engage in this tradition? What is the significance of eggs and rabbits in Easter, and what do they have to do with Jesus and the cross? What is Palm Sunday and Holy week and why hot cross buns? Obviously there's a broad spectrum of beliefs within our community and beyond. There are literal interpretations of the Easter story, metaphysical interpretations, and no interpretations at all except preparing a ham and egg casserole. But giving our children a context for how we do or don't do holidays can anchor them and provide meaning for them, which can bring comfort as they confront their own struggles.
Tomorrow in Sunday School, we'll briefly discuss how the eggs and rabbits represented fertility and rebirth in nature in the Pagan observations of Spring, preceding Christianity. We'll discover how baskets of treats evolved from Western Europeans bringing the tradition of making nests for rabbits and eggs. And how eggs were forbidden during Lent, so people painted them and waited to eat them for the Easter feast! We'll read a Christian version of the Easter story and discuss the significance of the palm for Palm Sunday. Of course we'll discuss these ideas while we create tangible crafts to bring home.
As we go through the week in our own families, perhaps we can pick and choose what rituals to do with our kids and bring more meaning and purpose to them versus going through the motions. Maybe hot cross buns symbolize crossing out beliefs or behaviors that no longer serve us. Maybe coloring eggs are a way to remember and honor the cycles we go through as people (darkness into light, negative thinking into positive thinking, protecting our hearts into opening our hearts), just as nature goes through the same cycles, like a magical ring. I hope to see you and your children tomorrow as we begin this special week.
If you ever have any questions
regarding our services or your
children's needs, please email
me at michelle@aspenchapel.org
In Peace and Blessings,
Michelle Skagen
Aspen Chapel Youth Coordinator
When I reflect on my own childhood and remember Easter and the days leading up to Easter, I can recall certain images and activities, but I don't remember learning the purpose behind what we did as a family. I remember hoping that the dissolved Paas tablets would make a vibrant color on the eggs, and being disappointed when they came out pale and splotchy. I remember decorating our Easter tree with adorable wooden rabbits and ornate wooden eggs, and finding new ones hanging from my basket each year. My fondest memory is finding Cadbury eggs and little presents in my basket...it was like a smaller version of Christmas, but more pastel. I'd usually have to wear some starchy dress that my mom made and then cringe from embarrassment as my mom belted out Hallelujah with her Easter hat at some church with my grandparents. The only thing that got me through it was stifling laughter with my brother in the pews and knowing we'd be able to eat deviled eggs and more chocolate soon.
It wasn't until I was in the throes of motherhood that Easter meant something more than arranging a "perfect" basket for my children with natural jellybeans and Jan Brett Easter books. Like with a lot of people, the struggles in our life as parents opened us to the spiritual lessons offered in the holidays we celebrate, behind the ritual and traditions and outfits and meals. And maybe by slowing down and helping our children understand the origins and meanings behind what we do for these holidays, they'll see beyond the "getting" and "consuming", and will see them as an opportunity to evolve as human beings with the cycles of birth, death, and rebirth that our planet experiences.
So back to Paas tablets...why do so many of us engage in this tradition? What is the significance of eggs and rabbits in Easter, and what do they have to do with Jesus and the cross? What is Palm Sunday and Holy week and why hot cross buns? Obviously there's a broad spectrum of beliefs within our community and beyond. There are literal interpretations of the Easter story, metaphysical interpretations, and no interpretations at all except preparing a ham and egg casserole. But giving our children a context for how we do or don't do holidays can anchor them and provide meaning for them, which can bring comfort as they confront their own struggles.
Tomorrow in Sunday School, we'll briefly discuss how the eggs and rabbits represented fertility and rebirth in nature in the Pagan observations of Spring, preceding Christianity. We'll discover how baskets of treats evolved from Western Europeans bringing the tradition of making nests for rabbits and eggs. And how eggs were forbidden during Lent, so people painted them and waited to eat them for the Easter feast! We'll read a Christian version of the Easter story and discuss the significance of the palm for Palm Sunday. Of course we'll discuss these ideas while we create tangible crafts to bring home.
As we go through the week in our own families, perhaps we can pick and choose what rituals to do with our kids and bring more meaning and purpose to them versus going through the motions. Maybe hot cross buns symbolize crossing out beliefs or behaviors that no longer serve us. Maybe coloring eggs are a way to remember and honor the cycles we go through as people (darkness into light, negative thinking into positive thinking, protecting our hearts into opening our hearts), just as nature goes through the same cycles, like a magical ring. I hope to see you and your children tomorrow as we begin this special week.
If you ever have any questions
regarding our services or your
children's needs, please email
me at michelle@aspenchapel.org
In Peace and Blessings,
Michelle Skagen
Aspen Chapel Youth Coordinator
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