easter

You may not be aware, but the Easter Bunny has been around for a long time. Easily one of the most recognizable symbols of the holiday, the loveable critter was first mentioned in an essay by German physician and botanist Georg Franck von Frankenau all the way back in 1682. Funny, we always figured he was just a Hallmark creation.

Now a different Easter story.  Easter Island has fascinated archaeologists for eons. It sits in southeastern Pacific Ocean and is a territory of Chile. The island has been largely uninhabited for hundreds of years. There are a few hundred intrepid residents. What remains most striking are the gigantic moai.

Today is Good Friday, the beginning of the Easter weekend. The religious significance to Christians goes without saying as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, and the promise of eternal life. As for the secular celebration, we take for granted all of the Easter candy, Easter egg hunts, egg coloring contests, beautiful Easter lilies, and of course the Easter Sunday meal with family.

Today is Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday. The celebrations are in full swing in New Orleans. It's often called the biggest party of the year, and the revelry gets pretty decadent. In the midst of it all, it's easy to forget that it is actually a Christian holiday and marks the beginning of the season of Lent...