MARCH 2018 x

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Egg-ceptional Spring Traditions

With the arrival of spring on March 20 comes all the holidays and traditions associated with the end of winter: religious traditions like Passover and Easter, and Nowruz, the Persian New Year. All of these

celebrations share an important symbol: the egg.

Celebrating March For millennia, the egg has been an exalted symbol of birth, rebirth, and hope. Ancient Egyptians told stories Entertainer Jack of the sun god hatching from an egg. Sometimes the

2:00 PM, 394 Building sun was considered an egg, laid each day by Seb, a cosmic goose and god of the earth. In , the March 7 egg represents the makeup of the universe. The shell is the heavens, the white is the air, and the yolk is the Daylight Savings Time Begins earth. In the Persian story of creation, Good and Evil

March 11 are locked in an epic battle. When Evil is hurled into

an abyss, Good lays an egg, which represents the

universe, with Earth suspended from the heavens as Entertainer Rodger a halfway point between Good above and Evil below. 2:00 PM, 400 Building March 12 Eggs have always been a symbol of the beginnings of the universe and life itself. No wonder that after the long dark of winter, with the return of the sun, eggs are St. Patrick’s Day revered as harbingers of life. March 17

When Jews sit together for the Passover seder First Day of Spring on March 30, an egg will adorn the seder plate as a March 20 symbol of the ritual offering to the Temple in Jerusalem. Furthermore, the egg symbolizes—you guessed it—life itself. For Christians, Easter is a holiday celebrating the Entertainer Eddie resurrection of Jesus Christ, so using an egg as a 2:00 PM, 1350 Building symbol of rebirth was a natural choice. The traditional March 22 color to dye Easter eggs is red, symbolizing the blood Jesus shed on the cross. In Macedonia, congregants Gamblers Game Outing bring their red eggs to Easter church services, and Bus P/U 2:00 PM, Game Start when the priest proclaims, “Christ is risen,” it is 3:05PM customary to eat the egg as a ritual breaking of the Lenten fast. Elsewhere, in Iran, Persians prepare for March 25 their new year, Nowruz, by preparing their ceremonial table, the haftseen, with symbolic foods and objects, including painted eggs representing fertility. All over the world, people will be looking at eggs in a different light.

March 2018

The Colors of Devotion March Birthdays

March 1 and 2 bring India’s In astrology, those born between March 1–20 most famous Hindu holiday, are Pisces. Friendly and selfless, Fish are , which is known as the always willing to help others with their hearts “festival of love” or the “festival on their sleeves. Thanks to an intuitive of color,” but it is really a understanding of life, Pisces make deep festival that celebrates the connections with other living beings. Aries’ victory of good over evil. Hindu Rams are born between March 21–31. As scriptures tell of the arrogant the first sign of the zodiac, Aries are energetic King Hiranyakashyap, whose own son, and assertive initiators. With bravery, zeal, and Prahlad, refused to worship him in favor of . speed, they jump headfirst into life, confident The Demon King called on his sister Holika to that they can navigate any challenges. sit with Prahlad atop a burning pyre. Thanks to Prahlad’s prayers to Vishnu, he survived, but Lou Costello (comedian) – March 6, 1906 Holika, who thought herself immune to the fire, Liza Minnelli (entertainer) – March 12, 1946 was consumed. It is through this story we learn Reba McEntire (musician) – March 28, 1955 how the virtues of goodness, faith, and devotion Warren Beatty (actor) – March 30, 1937 are used to conquer forces of evil. This story is so important that before this holiday was called Holi, Resident Birthdays it was called Holika after the Demon King’s sister. Agnes – March 2 The first day of Holi sees the ritual burning of Judy – March 14 pyres, with celebrants daring to race through Paul – March 20 the flames, hoping to emerge as unscathed as Jennie – March 26 Prahlad. The fire purifies the spirit, proving one’s Betty V. – March 31 devotion and reaffirmig the triumph of good over evil. But the story of Holi does not end here. The From the Activity Directors Desk second day of the holiday is perhaps the most This year our Gamblers Game outing will be well-known. On this day, celebrants gather in taking place on March 25th. The bus will pick massive crowds and throw colored powder at us up at 2:00pm and the game will start at each other. This practice, too, has its roots in 3:05pm. Family is invited as well, you just . need to provide your own transportation. If you would like your loved one to attend please call The supreme deity fell in love with the or text Kassie at 920-412-6224 or email at goddess but was concerned that they [email protected]. would be a poor match because his skin was blue. Krishna’s mother advised him to paint her We are in the middle of planning an Easter face in order to erase their differences. Like Social, please keep a look out for signs posted Krishna, celebrants joyfully paint each other in on the doors with more information. The event a rainbow of colors, erasing any and all notions will be listed in the April newsletter as well. of caste or ethnicity. During this celebration, it becomes nearly impossible to recognize others, Any questions or comments feel free to so all are loved equally. Furthermore, colored contact Kassie. powders are often made of crushed medicinal herbs such as bilva, haldi, kumkum, and neem. Throwing these healing herbs is reminiscent of the healing nature of the holiday—the power of spring and the vigor, purity, youth, and playfulness of the spirit.