EASTER

As is tradition, the 80-year-old pope prayed for peace in troubled parts of the world, singling out Darfur in Sudan and Somalia, “the tormented Middle East, especially the Holy Land, Iraq, Lebanon.” He also mentioned Tibet, a sensitive issue for the Vatican, which is working to improve ties with China, amid unconfirmed reports of direct talks here last week between Chinese and Vatican officials.

“How often relations between individuals, between groups and between peoples are marked not by love but by selfishness, injustice, hatred and violence,” the pope said. “These are the scourges of humanity, open and festering in every corner of the planet, although they are often ignored and sometimes deliberately concealed; wounds that torture the souls and bodies of countless of our brothers and sisters.”

More about EASTER~~

Easter and the spring equinox:
Why we'll never see the holiday this early again in our lifetimes
Journal News Service; McClatchy-TribunePublished: Saturday, March 22, 2008
Ever wonder why Easter moves around from March to April? This year it's the earliest anyone alive today will ever experience it.

In an article published recently in the Niagara Falls Review, Rev. John James, an ordained minister of the United Church of Canada, explains it.

"Easter is always the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox (which is March 20). This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendar that Hebrew people used to identify Passover, which is why Easter moves around on our calendar. Based on the above information, Easter can actually be one day earlier (March 22) but that is exceedingly rare.

"This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives! And only the most elderly of our population have ever seen it this early (95 years old or above). And none of us has ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier! Here are the facts:

"The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now.). The last time, it was this early was 1913 (so if you're 95 or older, you are the only ones that were around for that!).

"The next it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818. So, no one alive today has or will ever see it any earlier than this year!"

HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE SPRING EQUINOX?
1. ANOTHER TERM FOR THE SPRING EQUINOX IS WHAT?
A. Vern
B. Verna
C. Vernal
D. Vernalia

2. EASTER IS RELATED TO THE SPRING EQUINOX HOW?
A. It falls on the first Sunday following the equinox.
B. It falls on the second Sunday following the equinox.
C. It's always the first Sunday after the first full moon after the equinox.
D. It's always the first Sunday after the first new moon after the equinox.

3. WE WOULD HAVE NO SEASONS AT ALL IF IT WASN'T FOR...
A. The earth's tilt.
B. The equator.
C. The moon.
D. The ocean's tides.

4. THE SPRING EQUINOX ALSO MARKS THE START OF A NEW YEAR FOR WHAT?
A. The Baha'i
B. Astrology
C. The Persians
D. All of the above

5. TRUE OR FALSE: AS THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE GEARS UP FOR SPRING, THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE IS PREPPING FOR AUTUMN.
A. True
B. False
- - -
ANSWERS:
1. C.
2. C.
3. A.
4. D.
5. A.
© The Edmonton Journal 2008