As at Christmas, when store shelves are filled with chocolate Santas and other gift-giving goodies, the spring brings a rush of candy eggs, jelly beans and plush lamb toys – the secular interpretation of a deeply religious holiday. While the commercial world is happy to make money from another occasion on the calendar, for Christians, this most important time of year is about something far beyond Peter Cottontail.
St. Albert is home to tens of thousands of Christians – the vast majority (around 20,000) are Catholics, with hundreds more belonging to numerous Protestant faiths – United, Lutheran, Anglican, Baptist and others. And regardless of how strong or weak the attachment to their faith, the Easter season tends to bring the flocks back home.
"Most people believe that something happened in the history of humanity – that someone gave his life for us – it's a palpable conviction that connects people in a different way than Christmas does," said Father Maurice Okolie, pastor of Holy Family Roman Catholic Church and its 9,300 parishioners.
"That message of the Bible – of compassion, mercy and forgiveness – it touches something intrinsic in people that is far beyond human comprehension. It's a mystery."
The mystery of Catholic faith is practiced by some 378,000 in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton, which includes 125 parishes and missions in the central part of Alberta – Holy Family and St. Albert Catholic Church among them. For all Christians, the season begins 40 days before Easter Sunday with Ash Wednesday and Lent, a period of preparation, fasting and reflection on Jesus Christ – his suffering and sacrifice, life, death, burial and resurrection.
The week leading up to Easter – Holy Week – is marked by several services, including Holy Thursday or Maundy Thursday, which remembers and often re-enacts the Last Supper and the ritual washing of the feet by a priest or officiant.
"The message is on the teaching of Jesus, of being a humble servant," said Rev. Mervin Gallant, a minister at the St. Albert United Church.
Good Friday, which often features outdoor processions, is a sombre time that marks Jesus' death on the cross. At Sturgeon Valley Baptist Church, the silent reflection of Good Friday is amended with the church's annual musical/drama, this year entitled The Borrowed Tomb.
"We celebrate the hope of the resurrection. It's the culmination of the church year," said Sturgeon Valley's senior pastor Tom Anderst.
The solemn character of Good Friday leads to perhaps the biggest celebration of the weekend – Easter Vigil. Several hours long on Saturday evening, the vigil is characterized by scripture readings, prayer and song and, for Catholics, by baptisms that welcome new members into the faith.
"Easter Vigil begins with a celebration of light, the moment when the world moves from silence, death and darkness into the light," said Holy Family's Father Okolie. "And so that's the night we receive new adult Catholics, with all the rites of initiation – baptism, communion and confirmation."
Easter Sunday remains the most important day in the Christian church calendar, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus after his crucifixion. Surging church attendance on this day affirms this central belief of Christianity, that Jesus rose from the dead some 2,000 years ago.
"The notion that Jesus came to redeem us – it makes Easter one of the most visited times of year for the church," said Lorraine Turchansky, spokesperson for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton.
Traditions
And while millions of Canadians, and thousands in St. Albert, gather to celebrate this belief, it's also a time for family gatherings, an Easter meal of ham or lamb, and traditions like Easter egg hunts and egg decorating.
Eggs are an important symbol of Easter, representing the rebirth of nature in the spring and promise of new life – a parallel to the resurrection of Christ after he was crucified. Those of eastern European heritage know well the tradition of decorating pysanky (Ukrainian Easter eggs) with dyes, wax and candles, and colours and symbols of religious and secular meaning – the sun, sky, purity, hope and birth among them. St. Albert school children have also long been enjoying the tradition.
The Art Gallery of St. Albert offers students in grades 3 and up a chance to decorate Easter eggs in the classroom or in a studio, providing tools and instruction. And it also fits in handily with social studies curriculum on the Ukraine.
"It's a very popular program. Kids learn the significance of the tradition, and how to make art from a raw egg. We start with a vinegar bath, and then use the kistka, wax and dyes, moving from light colours – yellows, blues, greens – to the darker reds, purple and black," said Shannon Vance, education programmer at the art gallery.
And in the Easter basket, often brought for blessing at a church service, such decorated eggs join Easter bread, (paska or babka), plus Easter lilies, hot cross buns, candles, sugar lambs and pussy willows as symbols of the holiday.
At the end of 40 long days of Lent, when some may have given up chocolate, wine or red meat, Easter can become an especially happy celebration when family and friends gather for an Easter meal, with no restrictions.
And there's more than ham, turkey or lamb on offer, though these are still the most popular focal points of the meal. More than ever, people enjoy beef and vegetarian entrees – even deep-fried turkey – according to local sommelier Rosanne Winter-Repchuk.
And when it comes to choosing a wine to fit with Easter celebrations, it can be tough to pick one.
"It's a varied spring menu for many, prepared with or without sauces, and barbecued or roasted meats. Don't forget the bubbly as an option. A nice bottle of champagne or cava (from Spain) goes with a lot of food as well," said Winter-Repchuk.
With the most traditional Easter meat, ham, Winter-Repchuk likes Beaujolais, Reisling or Pinot Noir – even an Argentinian Malbec. IntoWine.com said the salty, smoky and sweet flavours of ham make dry red or white wines a no-no. Stick with a German Reisling instead, it said. And if barbecued beef is on the menu, go for a California Zinfandel, said Winter-Repchuck. With prime rib, try a cabernet sauvignon or merlot.
Did you ever wonder why the date of Easter changes every year?
This moveable feast, as it is called, can fall on any Sunday between March 22 and April 25. Easter is based on the Jewish lunar calendar, not our well-known solar Gregorian one, so Easter always falls on the first Sunday following the Paschal full moon after spring equinox on March 21. If the full moon falls on a Sunday, then Easter is the next Sunday afterwards.
Community Sunrise Service
Easter Sunday marks the 38th annual Community Sunrise Service in St. Albert. As the sun crests over Mission Hill, 100 to 200 people of all faiths are expected to join in front of St. Albert Place for an outdoor service celebrating their belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.<br />"It's a time of neighbourliness and community – an important statement about our common belief in the resurrection," said Rev. Garry Engler, chaplain at Sturgeon Community Hospital and event co-organizer. <br />"There's singing, prayers and a greeting – a combined effort of five to 10 denominations in the city – it's a special time for my family too, a tradition we've had for years."<br />The Knights of Columbus will likewise carry on the tradition of refreshments inside city hall following the 30 to 45 minute service.<br />"The resurrection of Jesus is of worldwide significance," added co-organizer Pastor John Luth. "The sunrise service is a great experience and statement that the church is greater than any one group of people."<br />All residents are welcome to attend the service, which starts at 7 a.m.
